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Has there ever been a first-year AFL coach under more pressure than Nathan Buckley? It’s going to be incredibly intriguing to watch the 2003 Brownlow Medalist’s debut season in charge of Collingwood, assuming the mantle after a less-than-smooth transition of power from Mick Malthouse.
Instead of becoming the club’s director of coaching this year, Malthouse is now happily retired and enjoying a role in the media – and the spotlight is firmly on the man who used to be his captain.
The ‘Kirribilli agreement’ was always going to be a controversial one and is guaranteed to take up plenty of column inches this season.
It’s for good reason. The next 12 months will not only vindicate or condemn the Collingwood hierarchy for their decision, it will also test the ability and the character of Buckley.
Unlike Mark Neeld, Brendan Sanderson, Scott Watters and Brendan McCartney, Buckley will get no honeymoon period.
The expectation is that he is up to the job. That was the whole point of his apprenticeship under Malthouse. He had nearly three years to absorb as much knowledge as he could from the triple premiership coach to be ready for the moment he took over. By now, he should be equipped with everything he needs.
He has a capable group of assistants, headed by Rodney Eade – former St Kilda legend Robert Harvey, 251-gamer Matthew Lappin, sophomore defensive coach Max Hudghton and two-time premiership winner Ben Hart.
Eade is key, and a luxury for Buckley. ‘Rocket’ is fresh out of the game and is widely (perhaps questionably) regarded as one of football’s great tacticians.
He was arguably stiff when sacked by the Western Bulldogs last season and his appointment suggests the Pies believe he still has plenty to offer.
Aside from his coaching staff, Buckley also is employed by a club that is innovative, willing to invest in its football department and with enough cash to send their best players off to Arizona in the middle of the season to get some miles in their legs.
He has also inherited an excellent playing list, certainly one of the best in the competition. What’s more, last year’s premiers Geelong will lose retired pair Cameron Ling and Brad Ottens, who were key in their grand final win. Collingwood are still good, their nearest rivals will be weaker – this all adds to the pressure for Buckley.
His character will also be given a fierce examination. He admitted last week to The Age that his failure to win a premiership as a player still eats away at him. He should turn that into motivation.
He was a champion footballer, possibly one of the best the game has ever seen. It would be of great advantage to him if he could bring that same hunger for the ball to his new gig. A guy like Buckley would not have entered coaching if he didn’t think he would engross himself in and obsess about the art of guiding a team to the top.
The real heat, though, will be on the club that decided to give Buckley his opportunity at the expense of Malthouse. It’s still remarkable that the Magpies went ahead with the transition of leadership. It was a big statement, that they could afford to do away with wily Malthouse because they thought they had another mastermind waiting in the wings.
There’s every chance they could. By winning the flag in 2011, Chris Scott showed there are no bounds to what a rookie coach can do if he enters a well-structured environment with the necessary resources.
Collingwood’s resources are beyond necessary – they have a terrific list, a great coaching panel, a favorable draw, a reputation that strikes fear into the hearts of other teams and plenty of money to splash around.
But with great power, to mangle the words of Uncle Ben Parker, comes the unenviable pressure of being in charge of the most popular club in the AFL.
Buckley is expected to deliver straight away, with no grace period. If he slips up, both coach and club will be held to account. How this all unfolds will be captivating.
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