Sanderson was removed from the top job on Wednesday, just months after signing a two-year contract extension.
Buckley, who was overseas at the time he found his close friend had been sacked, believes Sanderson was not supported well enough during his three years in the hot seat.
"I feel for 'Sando'. There's no perfect people and there's no perfect coach," Buckley said on ABC Grandstand.
"If their weaknesses are buffered by the strengths of people around them, that's when you get a good team on and off the field.
"I think Sando's been dealt a really harsh card because the club didn't put that support around him."Buckley said Sanderson was met with inescapable hurdles, ones that were out of his control.
"They (the Crows) were unable to handle the circumstances that no-one would've foreseen," Buckley said.
"It wasn't just personnel in the coaching staff. It was draft picks (too).
"The consistency at the management level has not been there and I think Sando's been an unfortunate victim in all of that."
Buckley stopped short of declaring Collingwood were enquiring about Sanderson's services, but was effusive in his praise of his friend.
"I know he's a quality individual. I know that he loves the game and I know that he's got a great tactical mind
"He's an 8/10 or 9/10 coach who needed help with the one or the two."I think he's got a lot to offer."
