There is a lot to put aside when it comes to discussing Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach.
There is the salary cap disaster that has triggered a fire sale netting Picks 14, 65, 70 and a future second-rounder and losing Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Phillips, Atu Bosenavulagi and Picks 26, 33, 39 and 42.
There is the last five years of first-round picks at Collingwood that are all now gone: 2015 and ’16 were traded for Treloar, 2017 was used on Stephenson at Pick 6, then 2018 and ’19 were traded for Dayne Beams.
There is the disastrous deal to bring Dayne Beams back to the club on a four-year deal, netting a total of nine games and a potential payout of over $1 million.
There is the lawsuit facing the club now in the Heritier Lumumba case.
There is the over-paying of players at Collingwood of late, including Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips, Jaidyn Stephenson, Mason Cox and harking back to Daniel Wells.
There are the various off-field indiscretions over the past few years by both players and staff.
Putting aside all of that, two players on being exited with no fan farewell have come out and spoken against their treatment at the hands of the club.
Jaidyn Stephenson had to call Buckley to find out what was happening and was allegedly told to “pursue a trade heavily” and “he doesn’t know if I allowed myself to open up to the group”.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Firstly, is that now a requirement for a 21-year-old kid who is a natural player? To open up and be extroverted in a macho environment with blokes ten years older than him, closed inside a weird hub life away from family and friends?
Secondly, why did he have to call? Why didn’t anyone in management check in on the kid? Where’s the “Side by Side” so heavily preached?
As for Adam Treloar, he has now confirmed Buckley told him senior players wanted him out.
If this was truly said to Adam Treloar and Nathan Buckley completely made this up to push Treloar out the door, then his position as senior coach is now untenable and Eddie McGuire has no option but to terminate his services.
The senior group of players would simply not be able to work with someone who would have lied about them as a group.
If the senior playing group truly did not want him, then surely that is just as bad? Buckley has thrown them under the bus.
The only way Nathan Buckley survives this is if they completely refute it was ever said.
List manager Ned Guy would likely have to go as well for his part in the salary cap debacle.
Collingwood’s horror night continues with more culling to come.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Stephenson and Rob Harvey had a big falling out
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I guess that would at least make some sense Hub
Waddster
Roar Rookie
Nathan was a FIGJAM. Coached like a figjam. Eventually probably got told to change and success followed. Eddie is a figjam. Listen to Dane Swan's podcast and you get the idea. If a player makes a mistake they get a bake, then get a hug. Makes racist statements, which shows the clubs poor history in this area. Pushes Neil Balme out to get a mate in who is banned by AFL. Are they referred to the psychologist to get the problem sorted? Dane Beams, player with issues. Sounds like the issues haven't been dealt with. DeGoey player with issues. Stephenson, gambling issues. Doesn't listen to lectures. Treloar, player with issues. How is it that a club with huge resources can't help people become better. Change comes from the top.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Had me for a while...a short while.
Bludger
Guest
The Magpies remind us all of the Dukes of Hazzard where Eddie McGuire is the Boss Hogg of the organisation, and Nathan Buckley is like the bungling Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.
Murray
Guest
Nothing gets done without Ed’s say so
RT
Roar Rookie
Really? :laughing:
Possible
Guest
Caro Wilson mentioned it a couple of times during the year that Clarkson was being lined up to replace Buckley. If Clarko was available now, Buckley would be out. On Eddie, if Collingwood ditched him they might slip down the table significantly because the Magpies don't really have big business connections like a Carlton. It's all Eddie. Dumping Fast Eddie would be like dumping the Lowy family in soccer. Look how well that turned out for soccer. You wouldn't know that sport existed anymore.
Bludger
Guest
Do you remember what Collingwood was like in the late 1960s through to the end of the 1980s? If you could get through that, you can survive anything.
Carltonian
Guest
Would like to come out in defence of Buckley. He is still a relatively inexperienced coach, still finding his feet. And to be honest, he was right, his players just did not perform as he expected them to. That's not Buckley's fault. We should revisit the Collingwood coaching situation in 2030. If Buckley is deemed to be not performing by then you can say there is an argument that he might need some better assistants to help him see out his plans. All in all Buckley is doing pretty well and deserves a big pat on the back for his efforts. All you can ask from him is that he tries hard, what more could you ask?
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Jamieson hut?
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Slightly different reason this time.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
We get Reef McInnes this draft through the Academy rort too..
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Their last petition worked well Trent. To force a rematch of the 2018 GF because of the Maynard "block".
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ned Guy may never land another job in the industry again? His new nickname will be "Fall" as in Fall Guy.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Nick Daicos is a mad Blues fan
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Maybe Ned Guy might offer us a trade for the Pies first round draft picks for the next 3 years? https://www.google.com/search?q=alistair+clarkson+contract&rlz=1C1GGRV_enAU773AU773&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l5.262514628j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I thought Clarko was out of contract 2021?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ironically Bird, Buckley was originally courted by Nth leading to McGuire's succession plan with Malthouse to keep Buckley at the Pies.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Marty, he has history of this sadly with the Chris Mayne first poor year at the Pies. Bucks on SEN said something that made me feel so uneasy I wrote tot he club about it. He basically said Gubby Allan brokered the deal and that he didnt have much to do with it instead of simply saying the right thing which would have been “Chris is a valued member of the squad and has had some struggles finding his role but will be working hard over Summer, etc etc”. Sometimes, he gets caught out and it makes me question his true nature underneath despite the new mindfulness focus. I guess none of us are perfect and perhaps he has slipped up. This Treloar conversation though could damage player culture with the senior group. How would Scott Pendlebury feel?