Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley has opened up on links to Tasmania’s vacant head coach role at the AFL’s incoming 19th team, revealing that if he was offered the job now he would take it.
Speaking on Dylan Buckley’s Footy and Friends podcast, the now-Geelong assistant coach also spoke to previous interest from Melbourne last year with their top job.
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“My purpose isn’t to win a premiership. My purpose would be to help people along their journey, (to) find out how good you can make an environment, how much you can support people,” Buckley said.
“Tassie would tick that box. Melbourne came around (last year) … but I just couldn’t quite put that together. I made the point that it’s not the first time I’ll coach, but it will be the last. I was still kicking tires and working out whether it was something I wanted to do, as they were working out whether I was a legitimate candidate.
“I spoke to Tassie through that. I’ve openly said, I would take the Tassie job if it was offered to me right here, right now — I’d take it. I’ve got my head around that I think that would be an amazing journey to go on.
“They know where I’m at, and I know they’ve got decisions to make … but that led me to a phone call from Geelong. Pretty much: ‘It seems like you want to get back into coaching, do you want to come and work with us?’
“Within six days after the phone call, we’d put it all together and we’re in.”
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The seven-time All-Australian and 2003 Brownlow Medallist has continued his long-standing role with Fox Footy since his departure from Collingwood earlier this decade, and remains a regular member of On The Couch, as well as Friday Night Football.