Buckley, who has previously said he wants to serve an apprenticeship at club before taking the reins of a senior side, said his work with the AIS/AFL Academy squad had motivated him to accelerate his coaching dream.
"I definitely want to be involved in coaching at AFL level next year," he told afl.com.au on Tuesday, in the lead-up to the squad's trip to South Africa.
"As the year progresses and the closer it gets to the end, until I know what's available, all I'm doing is preparing myself as best I can.”
Buckley is currently an assistant coach with the AIS/AFL Academy, and he said his involvement with the young players had spurred his interest in coaching at an elite level.
"I suppose that's the lure of coaching as much as anything – to have an impact on young lives," he said.
"Their dreams are the same as mine were 20 years ago and you want to see them fulfil them to the optimum.
"That's the passion that I've developed in this role, and I hope that I can take it into an AFL environment next year."
There has been speculation that Buckley will return to Collingwood next season, with Magpies president Eddie McGuire giving his imprimatur to the suggestion the club's former skipper could work as an assistant to Mick Malthouse before taking over as senior coach.
"I think Nathan has publicly said that he wants to do an apprenticeship, so there could be a timing issue that could work well for the club," McGuire told The Age newspaper last month.
Asked if Malthouse and Buckley could work together in tandem, McGuire said, "There's all those combinations. There are, yeah."
Buckley told afl.com.au the thrill of watching recent Academy graduates such as Jack Ziebell, Michael Hurley and Steele Sidebottom take their first steps with their respective clubs this year had encouraged him to coach.
"I'm really enjoying being a part of the development program and the pathway and working with the Academy kids," he said.
"Seeing them go and play for an AFL club and perform on the field gives you a real sense of satisfaction. There's no doubt it gives you some sense of pride to have played even a small part in how far they've come and what they've been able to achieve.”
Joining Buckley on the AIS/AFL academy trip will be team coach Alan McConnell, fellow assistants Jason McCartney and Marcus Ashcroft, and tour leader Kevin Sheehan.
Buckley said McConnell had played a large part in developing his coaching skills over the past year.
"He coaches us as much as he coaches the young guys," he said.
"We're coming in out of a playing career and we've got experience in leadership and in an AFL environment but to be able to deal with young fellas is something this program has afforded me the luxury of.
"McCartney is fantastic, and rubbing shoulders with Michael Voss last year and Luke Darcy (another assistant coach) this year has all been fantastic.”
The 2008-09 AIS-AFL Academy begins its annual tour this Saturday with a match at Docklands against VFL club Williamstown. The match commences at 11.15am EST and will be a curtain-raiser to the round 3 St Kilda-West Coast clash.
