Nathan Buckley is dipping his toe again into the world of AFL teaching.
Buckley was noticed within the again row of the Fremantle (Walyalup) coaches field for his or her Spherical 11 conflict in opposition to Naarm on the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports activities. New to Kayo? Begin your free trial now >
The 50-year-old, who was watching on quietly sporting informal garments, has been a part of Fox Footy’s commentary staff since he completed up teaching on the Magpies.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir served beneath Buckley at Collingwood because the Magpies’ defensive coach for a few seasons, earlier than being appointed as Fremantle’s senior coach on the finish of 2019.
Walyalup defined on Twitter: “Nathan Buckley will probably be observing the sport immediately from our coaches field.
“JL and Bucks have a relationship from their Collingwood days and Nathan was eager to see how issues function on sport day.”
Western Bulldogs nice Brad Johnson stated on Fox Footy: “Acquainted face on the again row of the Freo’s coaches field, Nathan Buckley.”
Anthony Hudson added: “Lending a hand to his outdated colleague, a minimum of being an observer.”
It was an intriguing sight and can do little to quell hypothesis Buckley’s teaching days aren’t over but.
Buckley proved a superb luck appeal as Fremantle claimed a gritty 79 (12.7) to 72 (10.12) win over Melbourne.
Apparently, Buckley additionally steered Collingwood to a win over the Demons in his final ever sport in control of the Magpies.
“It happened mutually, it’s been within the pipelines for some time and this date fitted in rather well,” Longmuir stated publish sport.
“I’ll contact base with him through the week on what he considered the day, and what he considered our teaching arrange and communication within the field … I used to be actually eager for it to occur to assist my teaching journey.
“He was eager for that aspect of it, however he works within the media, he desires to take a look at how we go about issues and get a deeper understanding of how we’re attempting to play and the way a few of our gamers function.”
Buckley coached Collingwood for 10 seasons earlier than he stepped down halfway via the 2021 season.
The AFL teaching panorama is in a state of flux after Alastair Clarkson stepped away from North Melbourne indefinitely and Damien Hardwick stop as Richmond coach mid-season.
The departure of Hardwick, specifically, is anticipated to spark a training merry-go-round with a number of senior coaches probably within the body to be sacked or transfer golf equipment.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is out of contract on the finish of this season and regardless of the Energy’s scintillating 8-2 begin to the season, the membership says it would wait till later within the yr to make a name on his future.
Hinkley has been linked to the vacant Tigers gig, and his departure would create a gap for Hardwick to return to the membership the place he received the 2004 premiership as a participant.
Extremely rated Richmond assistant Andrew McQualter has been appointed Tigers interim coach.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale stated this week the Tigers received’t be afraid to nominate an untried coach, arguing “this have to get a premiership coach is a little bit of fable”.
Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew and West Coast’s Adam Simpson are beneath contract however are additionally probably on the chopping block.
A wildcard within the teaching carousel is Nathan Buckley, who will doubt be requested if he has a need to return to the teaching fraternity.
“There’s no burning ambition for me to get again right into a soccer membership,” he stated on Fox Footy final yr.
“You attempt to assess it, how a lot you’re carrying. There’s at all times somewhat little bit of resentment across the strain that is delivered to bear.
“I get pleasure from serving to younger males be higher variations of themselves. The profitable and dropping half, I really like profitable however I’m most likely not as ruthless round profitable and dropping. It’s extra in regards to the improvement of people and the event of a gaggle of people who I actually loved within the final 4 or 5 years.
“I’m undoubtedly not within the house (to return).”
Initially revealed as Nathan Buckley noticed ‘observing’ in Fremantle’s coach’s field
