Nathan Buckley drops massive hint about a huge career change after he was forced to sell some of his most prized footy possessions
- Buckley has not ruled out coaching the Tasmania Devils
- Footy Great tried to change the subject when pressed
- Buckley coached the Pies between 2012 and 2021
AFL Hall of Fame legend Nathan Buckley has dropped a huge hint at his next career move with a telling response when asked if he would like to coach the Tasmanian team that will compete in the competition in 2028.
Buckley, who coached Collingwood from 2012 to 2021, has repeatedly denied interest in returning to a similar role in recent years, but when asked by Kane Cornes on Monday if he wanted the top job at Tassie, he brazenly tried to change the subject change.
“Do you want to be Tassie’s next coach?” Cornes asked in their SEN radio program.
“Tassie is a beautiful state, isn’t it?” Buckley replied.
‘Beautiful scenery. It is one with nature. There is a lot that Tassie has to offer.”
A smiling Cornes interjected repeatedly with, “So, is that a yes?” – but couldn’t get a straight answer from a laughing Buckley.
“There’s still plenty to do under the bridge, I would have thought,” Buckley continued.
Nathan Buckley did not rule out taking a coaching job with the Devils in 2028
“Maybe you need more than a CEO to make decisions.”
Last week, journalist Jay Clark suggested Buckley would be “absolutely perfect” for the Devils’ role.
“Tell me the Tasmanian Football Club doesn’t need someone who can make an impact and has the character, ability, cache and connectivity (like Buckley),” Clark told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“He can connect with all levels of the football club. I’m not sure if there have been any discussions yet, but I’ll be surprised if Nathan Buckley isn’t on that shortlist.
“He seems like an excellent option in seat 1A for this position.
‘Maybe he oversees like a British football manager: the one at the top and his assistants are the people with the sleeves rolled up and involved in the core of the coaching.
“As someone who can oversee the entire operation, like Kevin Sheedy did [in the] early days at GWS – I think he would be absolutely perfect.”
Nathan Buckley will be a top prospect for the AFL’s newest team when the Devils enter the competition in 2028
The AFL legend (pictured with new Brodie Ryan) was forced to put some of his most prized possessions up for auction following his divorce from ex-wife Tania
Earlier this month, Buckley was forced to reluctantly auction off some of his most prized possessions following his split from his ex-wife Tania.
Items on offer included the champion midfielder’s grand final jersey, taken from his best performance on the ground in Collingwood’s defeat to Brisbane in 2002.
More than 750 fans expressed their interest in making Buckley’s items their own, with some even booking time off work to attend the auction, and Collingwood also purchased some of the belongings for their own museum.
Seven reports that the entire collection, including boots, shorts and socks from his time with the Pies and Brisbane Bears, sold for $192,000.
The most expensive item sold was his jersey from the 2002 finals, which fetched $16,000.