Magpies keep Buckley on two-year AFL deal

Aug 28, 2017 - 3:53 AM Nathan Buckley has a two-year AFL coaching extension, three months after he expected to be sacked.

Despite missing the finals for the fourth straight year, Collingwood have decided to stick with Buckley.

President Eddie McGuire said they looked outside the club, but insists they never spoke to prospective coaches or made any offers.

It is a year since Buckley famously said he would not survive unless Collingwood made the finals this season.

Instead they finished 13th in his sixth year as Magpies coach - the fourth-straight season they have not made the top eight.

Buckley said at Monday's announcement that his situation changed once the club made the mid-season decision to have a wide-ranging review of their football department.

Football director Geoff Walsh, who oversaw the review, recommended that Buckley keep his job.

"I would have thought that halfway through this year, it would have been very hard to see me in the role," he said.

"It's probably the board looking to analyse a little bit deeper about why we're in the situation we're in ... probably the advent of the review process has provided me with the opportunity to continue in my role.

"If there wasn't that, it would only be wins and losses, it would only be expectation versus performance - I think in many ways, we've got the expectation wrong."

Buckley met with the board on Sunday, a day after their season ended with the upset win over Melbourne, and a few hours later McGuire conveyed the good news.

McGuire rang him three times without an answer - Buckley's phone was on silent.

Eventually he had to ring Buckley's wife Tania.

Along with the months of speculation about Buckley's future, there has been talk that the Magpies were looking at potentially poaching a rival coach.

"I'm not going to answer that question," McGuire said when asked about looking elsewhere.

Then he added: "I will put it to you - do you look around and see what's around? Of course you do.

"Have I backtracked on my own answer? Probably a little bit."

McGuire also was adamant they never went further than looking.

Walsh said the review had been far-reaching and is encouraged by the responses from players and staff.

He said while they are doing plenty right, there was feedback on every aspect of the football department.

Widespread change is certain and already, long-time Collingwood assistant coach Scott Burns is headed to Hawthorn.

Walsh's review is one of three into various aspects of how the underperforming club is operating.

Meanwhile a humbled Buckley, his future secure, is up for the fight.

"This has been the most enjoyable year of my coaching career despite the public scrutiny," he said.

"I know I'm in a better place now to lead this football club ... than I ever have before."

Buckley said their first priority is to clarify the futures of staff members in the football department, given the uncertainty over the last couple of months.

McGuire agreed one of the problems for Buckley had been a lack of strong support in the football department.

The important football director's role in particular was a revolving door until Walsh's return to the role.

NATHAN BUCKLEY'S COACHING RECORD

Tenure: 2012-

136 games - 70 wins, 65 losses, one draw

2012 - 4th

2013 - 8th

2014 - 11th

2015 - 12th

2016 - 12th

2017 - 13th

Source: AAP