The Collingwood great guided Vic Country to a 60-point win over arch-rival Vic Metro at Blacktown Olympic Park Oval on Saturday in an outstanding start to his head coaching career.
"He was an impressive player and he's going to be impressive as a coach – there is no doubt in the world," Sheehan told afl.com.au.
"It's just another experience for him to manage another group of young men who are probably two years away from joining AFL lists.
"I think many of them, from what we've seen, are going to be picked up by AFL clubs in the years to come."
Sheehan said key traits shone through in Buckley's first match as Vic Country coach.
"He's managed a very talented group very well. They are an impressive side and he's just such a disciplined and well-organised person, and it showed today," he said.
"He's had limited time with them, but he's had some very important training sessions with them, enough to get them in great shape.
"This might be one of the very good under-16 Vic Country groups we've seen in recent years."
New AIS/AFL Academy high performance coach Jason McCartney concurred with Sheehan's thoughts.
"They look well structured and well drilled, and it doesn't surprise me one bit. I've had a little bit to do with Nathan over the last couple of years, and that's the way he goes about it - and that's the way he went about it as a player," McCartney said.
"Now that he's coaching, he doesn't leave anything to chance. Preparation is a big thing for him."
Piva Wright, a recently turned 16-year-old who hails from Dandenong Stingrays and has a Samoan background, was rapt to be coached by the Buckley.
Wright, like all of his Vic Country teammates, was given an individual post-match address by Buckley in front of his peers, parents and officials following the side's first win.
"It's fun. He just treats us like any other kid and he brings what he knows and teaches us,” said Wright, who impressed with his rebounding and contested work.
"It's exciting - not many kids get the chance [to be coached by Buckley].”
With the NAB AFL under-16 championships being played in Western Sydney this week, Sheehan said Buckley's profile was significant as the AFL expands into the new market.
"It's fantastic for the push for the 18th team in the west of Sydney to have someone like Buckley endorsing the level of footy that's being played at this championship by being the head coach of the Vic Country side," he said.
