Herald Sun - Mark Robinson
NATHAN Buckley is a lucky coach.
He knows that.
Very few coaches, if any, get a contract extension after four consecutive seasons without finals and it’s why Monday he was humble, nervous and excited.
He probably knows the club looked elsewhere for possible candidates, not that it worried him.
It was the only slip up in a 40-minute spiel about the changes about to be made at the club, be it personnel, philosophical, attitude, recruiting, welfare, role change and relationship building.
Only when president Eddie McGuire was asked if he had spoken other potential candidates, did the vibe of total togetherness take a small hit.
“We all live in the real world ... you look at what’s the best result for the football club,” McGuire said.
“Do you look around and see what’s around? Of course you do. But you do that constantly. This is an industry that is always looking over at the opposition to see what’s going on, whether it’s players, coaches, psychologists, sports welfare, you name it — everybody’s looking at everybody.’’
Asked if he had spoken to others, McGuire said: “Not spoken to or made offers to, or anything like that.’’
There must have been someone - maybe an Alastair Clarkson or Paul Roos early on - but in the cold hard light of day, what does it mean?
Buckley has the job for the next two years.
You could argue if it was a good decision, a political decision or a bad decision, but only time will tell on that front.
Still, it was a contentious decision because Collingwood fans are divided on Buckley and you have to wonder if the Collingwood board were similarly divided or, at the end, did McGuire simply get his way.
However you look at it, McGuire’s is unquestionably tied to this decision. “I think everyone’s position hinges on everything working,” McGuire said.
The fact he is up for re-election at the same time Buckley’s two-year deal expires makes it more dramatic — they are a package deal going forward and a package deal if it goes belly up.
It’s going to be fascinating next 24 months.
Clearly, the review into football operations, which included Buckley’s position, identified Collingwood’s meandering win-loss equation should be proportioned more to a dysfunctional football department and its failings than to Buckley’s failings as coach.
That McGuire believes intrinsically in a mentor-type person for Buckley was paramount.
There won’t be a director of coaching role per se, but don’t be surprised if the new bloke’s position will be closer to what a traditional chairman of selectors role was.
Not to bother with the contracts or paperwork, but to work closely with the coach.
Maybe that could be a role for Roos, or Gubby Allan if he returns.
Changes have and will be made to the assistant coaching ranks because while there will be philosophical change at the club overall, Buckley’s strategy and tactical intelligence needs attention.
On Monday, Buckley was thankful and supportive of the club’s direction, as he should’ve been, and what couldn’t be ignored was Buckley’s admission. he has changed as a person from when he started coaching.
Maybe it’s more about smelling the roses than being preoccupied about the process of how they grow, when they grow and how healthy they grow. Sort of like progress over process.
“I know that I am in a better place now to lead this football club and the football team better than I ever have before and I am looking forward to that challenge,” he said.
“I know that in my experiences as a senior coach in the last six years I have learnt a hell of a lot about myself and a hell of a lot more about a club that I love and about the people that we have.”
He didn’t want to get philosophical, but clearly Buckley’s broadcasts to the public this season have been more warm, if not spiritual, that other seasons.
“As you get older, you get to know yourself a bit better, when that happens, I think you understand the decisions that need to be made, the space that needs to be created for people in the environment,” he said.
“There is a lot of work to do on relationship building, on support and care mechanisms, the right time to challenge and to poke and to prod, that is part of the responsibility of the senior coach.
“I am far more open than I have ever been before and that has happened progressively over my life in footy, and I have learnt a lot more over the last six years in my time as senior coach.’
The 45-year-old spoke eloquently and honestly as he always does, and McGuire looked like the cat who got the cream, as he always does.
The upshot is Buckley has two years, McGuire the same and there’s no more room for excuses, for favourites, for failures and even a lack of Feng Shui, which Walsh indicated.
Pressure is everywhere, but when is it any different at Collingwood.
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