Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says the AFL club’s board has still not decided whether Nathan Buckley will coach the Magpies next season.
McGuire spoke to reporters after a board meeting on Tuesday night where football boss Geoff Walsh tabled his preliminary report after his far-reaching review of the football department.
McGuire and his board members need time to digest the report’s findings, which will mean Buckley will coach the side against Melbourne on Saturday not knowing if he will keep his job.
“We haven’t come to a position yet,” McGuire replied when asked about Buckley’s tenure.
“Seriously, there is nothing tricky about this. We’ve had a board meeting, Geoff Walsh tabled his preliminary document that has given us some thoughts to go away with.
“We’ll consider it now then come back and make our decisions.”
Buckley is about to come off contract and his future has been one of this season’s major stories.
He has been at the helm for six years and this is the fourth season in a row the Pies have missed the finals.
They are 13th with eight wins and end their season against the Demons on Saturday at the MCG.
Buckley has handled himself with aplomb despite the ongoing scrutiny and uncertainty.
The report from Walsh is one of three internal reviews at the underperforming club and McGuire defended the amount of time it has taken for the review to be completed.
“It’s not just one decision, it’s trying to come up with a template for what the future of the Collingwood Football Club is,” he said.
“So everything is at stake at our football club, it’s a very serious document, that’s why we have taken a long time and a lot of consideration to get to this point.
“There’s been no stone left unturned. Now we’ll go and digest that and make a considered decision.”
There have been several reports in recent weeks that the club is leaning towards a scenario similar to the ones that played out at Richmond last year and Geelong in 2006.
Changes were made after exhaustive reviews but under-pressure coaches Damien Hardwick and Mark Thompson survived and went on to enjoy much-improved seasons – the Tigers are currently fourth and the Cats won the 2007 flag.
Regardless of whether Buckley stays, a shake-up of Collingwood’s football department is inevitable.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Actually Kane....he was asked a question by a reporter at the end of last season..it was something like "Would you expect to be given another contract if the club don't make finals in 2017"? His answer? "Absolutely not". Don't let the truth get in the way of your argument though. He never gave his word to walk away, he just answered a reporters question.
Rob
Guest
No amount of excuses can disprove the fact that Buckley is a failed coach. McGuire's latest comments guarantee that Buckley will carry on in 2018, and Collingwood will once again wind up in the bottom six.
Pieman
Guest
I think Buckley should get a 6 year extension just in case 4 isnt enough to get Collingwood out of the bottom 5. I think he should get 3 or 4 mentors like Paul Roos Mick Malthouse ....etc and some great assistant coaches....but dont worry everyone Mr Ed has just received the results of internal review and thankfully none of this is Nathans fault or Mr Eds.... thank goodness they are off the hook but look out everyone else...its obviously your fault...assistant coaches and the runners ...the doctors they are all to blame ... all you volunteers that are helping have to pick up your game or you will be forced to support another club. Obviously your love for Collingwood is irrelevant compared to Buckley and Mr Ed.
Kane
Guest
Look above Peter the Scribe, make that 75,877. Pieman has gone too if ur mate is re-appointed. That's about 10 in 3 days that are not signing up again just on this forum. Imagine what the numbers will be if you mathematically compare them to members who don't comment on the Roar!! It looks to me that you are on ur lonesome with ur ideals and thoughts.
Kane
Guest
I guess Buckley isn't a man of his word then (surprise surprise) because he said today that he's gunning for another contract. U are correct Tigerman, ego's do get in the way. What do you expect tho when the biggest ego in footy is the President of the same club that the 2nd biggest ego is the coach of.
Pieman
Guest
Well lets hope Buckley goes...either sacked or walks...he said he wants to coach the pies..who doesnt? I think most half decent coaches would love a 5 year shot at coaching an afl team and then continue even without a finals campaign they have genuinely earned themselves. I think the members have to boycott this year if Buckley is retained... is Mr Eds job under scrutiny in this review? If it was a genuine review he would be gone. If the board had a back bone he would be told to go....I will certainly not attend any Collingwood games next year if there is no change to the senior coach. Its simple. Buckley should coach elsewhere...Mr Ed and his stubborn i know best attitude should be moved on and get Stuart Dew to coach along with a humble president who doesnt think he knows it all. If Buckley coaches next year he will not make finals again because there will be too much pressure on the players to make this situation work. Didnt Collingwood enjoy a fullish list most of this season? So no excuses. Nathan should get a job in the media. Time to move on pies.
truetigerfan
Guest
You are,indeed, right Gungadin. I'd go even further. If Buckley is a man of his word he'd walk. Putting all this messy business to rest. Guess egos get in the way sometimes!
Mickyo
Guest
They will reappoint him, it's a mistake, he has had more than a fair go and come up short. They will reappoint him when no one is looking, I have been following Collingwood since 1970 and can as a kid vaguely remember watching them lose to Carlton in the GF. Collingwood needs a clean out and a younger innovative coach employed, but it seems now everyone around Buckley will be cleaned out and him stay. McGuire got involved in Collingwood for this very reason of cleaning out the old staid guard and is now endorsing his own.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
I thought you didn't like honorable losses PTS.
gungadin
Guest
Peter the Scribe, you have demonstrated a complete lack of objectivity. Nathan Buckley has been in charge of the team and demonstrated his lack of abilty. Twice the team has been thrashed the first game of the season. Having a draw after leading by 50 points. Nathan set the bar for his success this year, Nathan set the bar. If Eddie is the dictator at Collingwood, then he should be removed.
Burkey
Guest
You really think I'd pretend to be a Bombers fan after the past few years bud?
Mattyb
Guest
Carltonian,or Collingwood have offered Buckley one year and he wants two?
peter chrisp
Guest
Excellent comment our last game this weekend to Melbourne will be the decider? If we lose by 100 points uhh you would think so he will be gawn?
anon
Roar Pro
Eddie's body language after the meeting last night suggested that Buckley is GAWN.
truetigerfan
Guest
Well Patricia . . . I mean Peter. Do you really think Mick would go back, surely not?
Johnno
Guest
maybe the opposite.....review forms the basis in extending Buckleys contract.....cause the review said so.
Cat
Roar Guru
The only one being defensive is you Patricia. 11 of your 15 flags came from '36 or earlier. The reason I picked 1990 is it is when the AFL started. That is the league that is relevant NOW! There are many people on this forum that complain about VFL records being included because about half the teams in modern AFL didn't even exist then. Is it fair to WCE or Freo, Adelaide, Port Adelaide or any of the other expansion sides to include records from a league they weren't part of? That is the exact reason why Collingwood has always been against VFA records being included. It was a different league. Collingwood was late to the party and didn't exist without pioneering clubs like Geelong doing the hard work for decades before the Pies were dreamt of. Either include all flags a club has won in their entire existence or find a a demarcation line that is fair, like the founding of the AFL.
Cat
Roar Guru
Keep hanging your hat on injury excuses and 'nearly' good enough. Real teams will be busy actually winning and playing actual finals.
Cat
Roar Guru
So if we're talking all the flags since footballs inception, why do we not include the old VFA flags? The only people who cling to ancient history are those whose modern, relevant history falls flat. Does winning a flag that no one on this forum was alive to see won actually mean a thing? No, it doesn't. Does winning a flag in 9, 10 or even 12 team competitions have any relevance to modern day? No, they don't. Does winning a flag before there was equalisation, salary cap and drafting to give all clubs a fairly even chance relevant? Again no. You think you are so smart but but keep saying 43 years like it means anything. It doesn't.
Patricia
Guest
I find it funny you young folk who choose to only quote the "AFL" stats when it serves your argument and then swap and change back when it suits other arguments...Cat you need to look at all the flags since the inception of the competition where you will find Essendon, Hawthorn and Collingwood way ahead of your Cats flags. I guess because you didn't win one for 43 years you choose to ignore that era which is a disservice to the great Polly Farmer, Sam Newman and other great servnats of your club. Mr Freud would say the cats have an inferiority complex.