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 Round 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. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The 50-year-old, who was watching on quietly carrying informal garments, has been a part of Fox Footy’s commentary crew 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 be observing the game today from our coaches box.
“JL and Bucks have a relationship from their Collingwood days and Nathan was keen to see how things operate on game day.”
Western Bulldogs nice Brad Johnson mentioned on Fox Footy: “Familiar face at the back row of the Freo’s coaches box, Nathan Buckley.”
Anthony Hudson added: “Lending a hand to his old colleague, at least 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 great luck appeal as Fremantle claimed a gritty 79 (12.7) to 72 (10.12) win over Melbourne.
Interestingly, Buckley additionally steered Collingwood to a win over the Demons in his final ever recreation answerable for the Magpies.
“It came about mutually, it’s been in the pipelines for a while and this date fitted in really well,” Longmuir mentioned put up recreation.
“I’ll touch base with him during the week on what he thought of the day, and what he thought of our coaching set up and communication in the box … I was really keen for it to happen to help my coaching journey.
“He was keen for that side of it, but he works in the media, he wants to have a look at how we go about things and get a deeper understanding of how we’re trying to play and how some of our players operate.”
Buckley coached Collingwood for 10 seasons earlier than he stepped down halfway by 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, particularly, is anticipated to spark a training merry-go-round with a number of senior coaches doubtlessly 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 Power’s scintillating 8-2 begin to the season, the membership says it is going to 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 gained the 2004 premiership as a participant.
Highly rated Richmond assistant Andrew McQualter has been appointed Tigers interim coach.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale mentioned this week the Tigers gained’t be afraid to nominate an untried coach, arguing “this need to get a premiership coach is a bit of myth”.
Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew and West Coast’s Adam Simpson are beneath contract however are additionally doubtlessly 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 back into a football club,” he mentioned on Fox Footy final yr.
“You try and assess it, how much you’re carrying. There’s always a little bit of resentment around the pressure that is brought to bear.
“I enjoy helping young men be better versions of themselves. The winning and losing part, I love winning but I’m probably not as ruthless around winning and losing. It’s more about the development of individuals and the development of a group of people that I really enjoyed in the last four or five years.
“I’m definitely not in the space (to return).”
Source: www.news.com.au
