The Magpies only managed four goals after half-time in the Sunday twilight game at Etihad Stadium as they dispatched the Western Bulldogs by 34 points, 15.9 (99) to 9.11 (65).
They led the Bulldogs by 53 points at half-time and blew a golden chance to boost their percentage, which is easily the worst in the top eight.
Buckley said last year's best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams, who is yet to play this season, is on the verge of resuming after this week's break.
"Dayne Beams had a bit of breakthrough over the last couple of weeks," Buckley said.
"We'd be looking to have him back if not the first game out of the bye, (then) the second."
Luke Ball, who missed Sunday's match with a calf muscle injury, and Alan Didak (soreness) also should be back after the bye.
Andrew Krakouer starred in the VFL on Sunday and Hawthorn recruit Clinton Young, another yet to play in the seniors this year, resumed from injury in the same game.
Buckley indicated that in the second half of the season those experienced players would push hard for selection, saying he believed there was a ceiling on what first-year players were capable of producing consistently throughout an AFL season.
"Young players, if they earn the right, will remain in the side, but we will need to manage them no doubt," Buckley said.
First-year players Ben Kennedy, Kyle Martin, Josh Thomas, Sam Dwyer and Adam Oxley performed well against the Dogs, but they will need to play well to earn the right to be in the senior team at the business end of the season.
Buckley also said he was aware of the workload some players were carrying. Jarryd Blair, Nathan Brown, Lynch, Harry O'Brien, Ben Reid (who was subbed off on Sunday), Steele Sidebottom and Dane Swan have played every game this season.
Buckley said O'Brien's training load was managed during the past week and it's likely he won't be the last.
"We need to spread the load. We've had quite a few boys who have had a heavy load ... [We're] looking to manage our players while we are searching for our best footy and our best 22," he said.
In the meantime, Buckley has mixed emotions about his side.
"Our first half was really good and our second half was a little bit disappointing," he said of Sunday's win.
"So you look at the glass half-full or half-empty - generally I'm a half-empty guy."
Asked why they were struggling to play at their best all the time, Buckley noted that eight members of Sunday's team had played 25 games or less.
"We'd like to get a little bit more stability in our 22 and we feel that's not far away - around the corner," he said.
"We've had moments in games where our best has clearly been good enough to be more than competitive against the best.
"But we have the second half of the year to sharpen up."
Heath Shaw and Swan, members of Collingwood's "brat pack" starred in Sunday's win.
During the week Buckley defended the group after media speculation they were not buying into cultural change at the club.
"They looked pretty invested, didn't they?" Buckley said.
Travis Cloke also impressed with five goals, four of them in the first half.
Fellow key forward Quinten Lynch did not score, but Buckley said he remains an important part of their structure in attack.
