{"id":812239,"date":"2026-07-20T12:54:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/812239\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T12:54:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:54:11","slug":"fork-in-the-road-buckleys-honest-reaction-to-devils-coach-call-and-hint-on-future-at-geelong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/812239\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Fork in the road\u2019: Buckley\u2019s honest reaction to Devils\u2019 coach call… and hint on future at Geelong"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nathan Buckley has transparently spoken for the first time since Tasmania named Ken Hinkley as their inaugural coach on Monday, labelling his non-selection as a \u201cfork in the road\u201d before expressing his excitement ahead as an assistant coach at Geelong.<\/p>\n

The AFL\u2019s 19th team officially unveiled Hinkley as its first senior coach on Monday, signing a five-year deal in a historic moment for the \u2018Apple Isle\u2019 that saw him pip both Buckley and 2012 Sydney premiership coach John Longmire for the role.<\/p>\n

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Speaking to Fox Footy\u2019s On The Couch on Monday night, the former Collingwood mastermind was humble in his acceptance of Tasmania\u2019s decision to appoint the former Power leader. <\/p>\n

\u201cI heard from (Brendon) Gale yesterday afternoon. I had a missed call and then a text, because things were moving pretty quickly … then I woke up this morning, and went to my job at Geelong,\u201d Buckley said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s taken me a little bit of time to reflect, because I was really keen on it. I was in on it; the passion that you\u2019ve heard from Kenny … if you\u2019re going to go for a job, you\u2019ve got to decide that you\u2019re all-in on it \u2014 and I was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI absolutely respect the process that the Devils have run, and I respect their decision with Ken. I think this is what a process is about; it\u2019s about an organisation and learning what its needs are … I\u2019m glad they found their man.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt leaves me in a really exciting role at Geelong, which I\u2019ve been at. The future there for me will inform my next step in footy … it\u2019s a fork in the road, but I\u2019m really grateful for where I\u2019m at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinkley discusses desire to coach again | 02:14<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

KEN\u2019S CHECKLIST: Ken\u2019s checklist: Trade targets, draft prodigies as new Tassie coach eyes dream team<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018DESTINATION CLUB\u2019: Rival blueprint Tassie will steal to build first AFL list… and cheeky flag<\/a><\/p>\n

DON\u2019T BE SURPRISED\u2019: Hinkley reveals why he wanted Devils job… and delivers bold list statement<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018IT\u2019S A BIT RICH\u2019: Devils boss whacks rival as Hinkley makes reveal over Tassie list strategy<\/a><\/p>\n

NO FLAG, NO WORRIES: Inside Ken\u2019s reverse pitch to land Tassie job… and how he beat Horse, Bucks<\/a><\/p>\n

After nine at a half seasons at the helm for Collingwood between the years of 2012-21, Buckley has entered the media realm as one of Fox Footy\u2019s best analysts and special comments personnel. <\/p>\n

As the prospect of being the Devils\u2019 inaugural head coach loomed, the 2003 Brownlow Medal joint-winner stepped back into club land, joining Geelong as an assistant coach in October last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit early (to know what\u2019s next), it\u2019s only 24 hours since discovering. I was really deliberate in getting back into Geelong, and it was as much to give myself the very best chance to be ready to go for the Tasmania role \u2014 but now that\u2019s off the table,\u201d Buckley continued. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be absolutely committed to what\u2019s going on at Geelong. I\u2019ve got an option for an extra year there, and that\u2019s probably the most likely outcome. And if that\u2019s the worst thing that\u2019s come about through this process, then I\u2019m honoured and grateful for that opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI determined that (wanting to be a senior coach again) about 12 months ago, but that\u2019s what I believe that I\u2019m capable of doing. That\u2019s what I want to do, but Tassie weren\u2019t the right fit.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nathan Buckley has transparently spoken for the first time since Tasmania named Ken Hinkley as their inaugural coach…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":812240,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-812239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/812239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=812239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/812239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/812240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=812239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=812239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=812239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}