IT IS not an anniversary that has Nathan Buckley shouting from the rooftops, but as he prepares for the 2018 season, the Collingwood coach is marking 25 years of involvement in the AFL.
And it has been a big 25 years.
Buckley has been one of the game’s most high-profile figures for virtually all that time, starting out from his 1993 season as a reluctant Brisbane Bear and winning the Rising Star award, to his move to Collingwood the following year and a decorated playing career there that included six best and fairests, seven All Australians, two Grand Finals, a Brownlow and a Norm Smith Medal.
Add to that the controversial "Kirribilli agreement" in which the coaching baton was passed to him from a clearly miffed Mick Malthouse at the end of 2011 followed by six years of declining on-field performances in his time as coach and it seems Buckley is never far from the spotlight.
Even when he took a brief break from the Magpies in 2008, he was front and centre of the game, as one of the special commentators on Channel Seven’s Friday night football coverage.
Buckley's playing career took off by winning the Rising Star. Picture: AFL Photos
So, the question to Buckley as he approaches the milestone is where the passion meter has been dialed down a bit after all this time and more to the point, all this scrutiny.
"I’m still in love with the game," he assured AFL.com.au in an exclusive sit-down.
"I’ve fallen out of love with the game outside the game. I’ve become a bit cynical about it all."
It is not hard to blame him. Collingwood made the finals his first two years in charge but has missed the finals every year since 2014.
Every Collingwood defeat the last two years has sparked a weekly referendum on his coaching ability.
He has won 51.8 per cent of his 136 games as coach, but that figure is declining every year.
It is manna from heaven for the talkback shows and it chews up the internet and newspaper columns.
"There’s aspects of it you don't enjoy but like anything in life, if you focus on the things you don't like, you’re heading south real quick," he said.
'Bucks' still gets involved at training. Picture: Getty Images
Buckley was re-contracted at the end of last season after an extensive - and exhaustive - review of anything and everything to do with the football side of things by head of football Geoff Walsh.
Buckley’s cause was no doubt helped by a relatively good finish to the season with four wins and a draw from their last seven games. They finished the season with a win over Melbourne that knocked the Demons out of the finals.
"It showed great resilience to be able to handle a situation where there was a fair bit of external pressure," he said.
"There was a review taking place, finals were off the table for last five-to-six weeks but what we learned is that if you look after each other and play for each other, the outcome is less relevant than the process and how you go about it."
Because Collingwood is, well, Collingwood, there was the widespread belief that the Pies only stuck with Buckley because premiership coaches Alastair Clarkson and Paul Roos weren’t interested in the job. But perhaps after six years of learning on the job, Buckley is finally coming into his own.
"I’m evolving as a senior coach," he said.
"I understand myself better, I understand the club better and the back end of last year, there were really strong connections between the players and coaches."
Buckley and Magpies president Eddie McGuire at last year's contract announcement. Picture: Getty Images
But with the new contract he maintains there was no edict from up above to change.
"You don't just wake up one morning and become someone or something different," he said.
Buckley won’t entertain any discussion about whether after just two years under Malthouse, he was elevated to the senior position too quickly. Michael Voss and James Hird were similar club legends given a leg-up to senior coaching at their clubs with minimal apprenticeships, but unlike Buckley, neither made it into their seventh year.
"I’d love to play, but this is the next best thing," he said.
"You’ve never got it (coaching) licked; there’s a lot of grey area in our game and that’s what makes it great.
"There’s always something to improve, always a laugh to be had. So many people working in such a confined space that have a united vision on where they want to get to. It’s hard work, but also hard not to fall in love with it.
"I have a great passion for it and love being involved in it."
It is hard to imagine Buckley doing anything other than football, although he jokes that his wife is waiting for the day.
"I feel incredibly blessed to lead the life I have through football," Buckley said.
"It's a big part, not the only part, but I hope it stays with me for a considerable period longer and I have some more success and enjoyment out of it."
