- Buckley does not rule out coaching the Tasmania Devils
- Footy Great tried to change the subject when pressed
- Buckley coached the Pies between 2012 and 2021
AFL Hall of Fame legend Nathan Buckley has given a big hint about the next step in his career with a very revealing answer when asked if he was interested in coaching the Tasmanian team that will join the league in 2028.
Buckley, who coached Collingwood from 2012 to 2021, has repeatedly denied interest in returning to a similar role in recent years, but when asked by Kane Cornes on Monday if he wanted the top job in Tassie, he brazenly tried to change the subject. .
‘Do you want to be Tassie’s next coach?’ Cornes asked on his SEN radio show.
“Tassie is a beautiful state, isn’t it?” -Buckley responded-.
‘Beautiful field. It is one with nature. There are many things that Tassie has going for her.
A smiling Cornes chimed in repeatedly: “So, is that a yes?” – but I couldn’t get a straight answer from a laughing Buckley.
“There’s still a lot to go under the bridge, I would have thought,” Buckley continued.
Nathan Buckley did not rule out accepting a coaching position with the Devils in 2028
“It may be necessary to have more than a CEO to make decisions.”
Last week, journalist Jay Clark suggested Buckley would be “absolutely perfect” for the Devils concert.
“Tell me the Tasmanian Football Club doesn’t need someone who can make a splash and has the character, the ability, the cachet and the connectivity (like Buckley),” Clark told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“He can connect with all levels of the football club. I’m not sure if there has been any discussion up to this point, but I would be surprised if Nathan Buckley is not on that short list.
‘He is emerging as an excellent option in seat 1A for this job.
“Maybe he supervises like a UK football coach: the guy sitting at the top and his assistants are the people who have their sleeves rolled up and are in the nitty-gritty and seeds of the coaching.”
“As someone who can oversee the entire operation, like Kevin Sheedy did (in the) early days at GWS, I think he would be absolutely perfect.”
Nathan Buckley will be a leading candidate for the AFL’s newest team when the Devils enter the competition in 2028.
The AFL legend (pictured with new Brodie Ryan) had to auction off some of his most prized possessions due to his divorce from ex-wife Tania.
Earlier this month, Buckley was forced to reluctantly auction off some of his most prized possessions following his divorce from ex-wife Tania.
Among the items on offer was the champion midfielder’s grand final jersey, earned in his best on-field performance in Collingwood’s loss to Brisbane in 2002.
More than 750 fans registered their interest in making Buckley’s items their own, with some even booking free time to attend the auction, and Collingwood also purchased some of the possessions for its own museum.
Seven reports that the total collection, which included boots, shorts and socks from his time with the Pies and Brisbane Bears, sold for $192,000.
The most expensive item sold was his 2002 finals jersey, which sold for $16,000.