NATHAN Buckley is eager to continue in his role beyond 2016 but he says a contract extension before the start of next season is not a pressing issue.
Approaching his fifth year in the top job, the external pressure on Buckley has continued to rise after his side failed to make the finals for the second consecutive season in 2015.
That he has reshaped the list in his own style and jettisoned several premiership players over the past few years has only added to the whispers of discontent from supporters and commentators.
Treloar 'delusional' over Tigers' prospects: KB
However, Buckley said he was determined to stay the course and turn his side's potential into sustained success.
"It's not front of mind for me," he said when asked about whether a contract extension was on the horizon. "I'm contracted for 2016."
"We're really clear on the direction we're going and on the things we want to shine a light on to improve us. I'm really clear on that. I'm a part of it, I'm not all of it.
"I love the footy club and I hope I can give as much benefit in my role as best as I possibly can and that I can do it for as long as I can because I love it."
Jack Crisp breaks away from Jamie Elliott. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Media
Speaking to the media during the club's training camp for its first-to-fourth-year players at Falls Creek on Thursday morning, Buckley said his side was well placed to feature in finals in 2016.
"We believe we'll be in better shape. In the end, we need to play to our best more often and if we do that, talent is not going to be a barrier for us," Buckley said.
"We've identified the gap between our best footy and our worst is when we're (not) connected and (don't) have strong leadership in the heat of the battle.
"We can practise that as much as we like in pre-season but it's having that confidence to take that step when it comes and we got there three or four times in 2015 and weren't able to take it.
"If we take that, making the top eight will be just the start of what we're able to achieve next year."
He pointed to Taylor Adams, Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Tom Langdon, Jarrod Witts, Jack Frost and Darcy Moore, as well as prized recruits Adam Treloar and James Aish, as the players who would determine how successful the club will be in 2016.
"The difference between where we are and where we want to go will be these boys who have played between 40 and 70 games stepping up and saying 'this is my football club and this is my passion and this is where I want us to go'," Buckley said.
"It's about those moments to drive each other and we'll keep working on that, but I can't question the attitude of this group and we'll get what we deserve in the end."
Pies recruit James Aish gets some treatment at Falls Creek. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Media
