The burning ambition to lead an AFL team again has driven coaching veteran Nathan Buckley to accept a surprise assistant role with grand finalists Geelong. The former Collingwood boss, who has been open about his desire to return to a senior position, sees the move as a crucial step back into the football fray.
A Strategic Stepping Stone
Geelong announced the shock appointment of Buckley as their new midfield coach last month. The role is widely viewed as a strategic move for the 53-year-old, positioning him strongly for the vacant head coach position at the incoming expansion team, Tasmania. Buckley recently missed out on the Melbourne Demons' top job, which went to Steven King.
When asked directly if returning to senior coaching remained his goal, Buckley was unequivocal. "Would I have stepped into this if I didn't want to get back into the main role? I don't think I would have," he stated. He described the Geelong opportunity as one that made him "pinch myself," adding that over the past 18 months he had determined he "would love to get back into the team environment."
Embracing the Geelong Culture
Buckley, who coached Collingwood for 260 games and lost the 2018 grand final, is already relishing his new environment under senior coach Chris Scott. He expressed deep respect for the Geelong program and enthusiasm for working with a midfield boasting the athleticism of stars like Max Holmes and Bailey Smith.
"To be able to get a look under the bonnet and then obviously play a role and contribute where I can is something that I've been energised and excited by," Buckley said. He also addressed the club's recovery from their 2024 grand final defeat to Brisbane, noting the group was "already getting to work and looking forward."
Focus on the Future and Supporting Players
While cautious about directly discussing the Tasmania role, Buckley acknowledged it was a significant week for the bid. "I'm an observer watching that and I suppose, optimistic about what that means for both Tassie footy and the competition," he remarked.
Part of his remit at Geelong will involve mentoring 23-year-old midfielder Tanner Bruhn, who is restarting his career after being stood down by the AFL last season. Criminal charges against Bruhn were dropped in November. Buckley emphasised support for the young player, saying, "Tanner's a young man who has the world at his feet, and being able to reconcile his last 12-to-18 months is something that will be a challenge for him, but something that he'll get lots of support around."
With a smile back on his face and a clear objective, Nathan Buckley's journey back to the AFL senior coaching arena has well and truly begun on the training tracks of Geelong.
