Click here to watch Nathan Buckley discuss his return to Collingwood as an assistant coachThree months have now passed since Collingwood announced its colossal five-year coaching plan outlining Nathan Buckley’s return to the Lexus Centre.
In one of his proudest days as president, Eddie McGuire, who was flanked by Buckley and head coach Mick Malthouse, announced to the football world that the six-time Copeland Trophy recipient will take up an assistant coaching position for two seasons before assuming the mantle as head coach for the following three years.
Buckley, who doesn’t officially start until next week when the entire playing group returns to preseason, has spent the last few days immersing himself into the forward’s coaching duties.
“It’s been fantastic,” Buckley told CTV in the boardroom at the Lexus Centre.
“It was a little bit surreal at the beginning. Running around with a few of the boys who have been preparing for a preseason lowers you into a false feeling of familiarity that you are actually going to be doing a preseason yourself and playing.
"That’s hit home pretty early and I am looking forward to my role here and getting stuck into it as soon as possible.”
With a young list at his disposal, Buckley’s coaching motto focuses on fostering the development and growth of a talented playing list.
“I see my role as creating an environment that makes it as easy as possible for the players to get the best out of themselves. The guys that are coming off what you would say was a successful year last year by finishing in the top four. Obviously we finished in the prelim but if you’re not the premiers it’s going to be a disappointing end to the season. We have a young list and there is a lot of development to come.”
Buckley’s focus for 2010 will revolve around imparting his renowned worth ethic and perfection onto the developing forward group.
“It doesn’t come by chance and through my experience I hope to impart how important it is to work hard session by session and that things don’t happen by accident. You need to put the work in to get the work out.”
After finishing the season in the top four and bowing out in the preliminary final to eventual premiers Geelong, Buckley is eyeing a successful 2010 season for the club.
“It’s (club’s potential) unlimited. My theory has always been season by season you reap what you sow. Although last year was a positive in finishing in the top four, there is still a lot of work to be done simply to get back to that position again. There will be a lot of sides that will want to break into the top eight and sides that want to push into the top four.
“We have two weeks of preseason here before the boys head to Arizona for a couple of weeks and then another two weeks to Christmas. That six week period to Christmas is important to get some of our base and structures in place and to really plant the seed with the work that needs to be done to make sure we are ready to face the competing sides.”
