Nathan Buckley has expressed interest in returning to a coaching role for the first time since leaving Collingwood, indicating his willingness to discuss the vacant coaching position with Tasmania. Recently, Devils CEO Brendon Gale revealed that he had previously met with Buckley to assess his interest alongside other candidates.
Derek Hine, the inaugural list manager for the Devils and a former colleague of Buckley at Collingwood, also endorsed Buckley, stating he would welcome the opportunity to work together again and believes Buckley would be beneficial for Tasmania.
Despite facing inquiries about various coaching vacancies, including the positions at West Coast and Port Adelaide, Buckley had consistently affirmed his satisfaction with his media career, turning down interest in coaching roles. However, when asked recently about the Tasmania job, he acknowledged, “there’s a chance.”
Buckley revealed he and Gale had several discussions last year to understand the challenges facing the Devils and to contribute his insights. He highlighted the importance of proper list management and recruiting before focusing on the coaching staff, pointing out the gradual progress the club has made.
While contemplating a return to coaching, Buckley admitted he is still evaluating whether he is ready for the demands of an AFL head coach position. “That coaching bug is still there, but I’m really enjoying what I’m doing at the moment,” he mentioned. He is carefully considering the different nature of coaching an existing club compared to a startup like the Devils, which presents unique challenges.
As he assesses his future, Buckley emphasised the significance of guiding young players at the beginning of their careers and selecting experienced senior players and staff passionate about building a new structure from the ground up. Buckley is one of the eight leading candidates for the Tasmania role, as reported by the WWOS team last week.