๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ โ โLeaving was the only decision.โ Thatโs how former Collingwood head coach Nathan Buckley described his departure from one of the AFLโs most high-profile coaching roles. After nearly a decade at the helm, Buckley has opened up about the real reasons behind his exit โ and they go far deeper than just wins and losses.
In a candid reflection, Buckley revealed that both he and the Collingwood Football Club had reached a point where continuing the partnership no longer served either side. While many assumed the departure was performance-based โ following a tough run of results in 2021 โ the reality was more nuanced. The former coach pointed to a growing โappetite for changeโ inside the club. It wasnโt just about game plans or player development. It was about energy, identity, and the evolving dynamics of leadership.
Buckley admitted he had started to lose his โcut-throughโ โ a coachโs ability to emotionally and strategically reach players. In elite sport, where communication is everything, thatโs a critical shift. Over time, even the most respected voices can become too familiar, and Buckley was honest in saying he could feel that happening. The message wasnโt hitting the same. The spark was fading.
On top of that, Collingwood was in transition. The club had made brutal list changes during the 2020 trade period, offloading key players to manage salary cap pressure. Some of these decisions were heavily scrutinised, and Buckley shouldered much of the public fallout. Behind the scenes, though, he explained that the trade-offs were necessary for long-term stability โ but also acknowledged that such moves inevitably disrupt team cohesion.
On the field, results were underwhelming. In 2021, the team managed just three wins from their first 12 games. It was a far cry from the 2018 season when the Magpies came within minutes of a premiership under Buckleyโs leadership. Still, Buckley refused to let performance alone define his legacy โ or his exit.
He maintained that while results were part of the picture, they werenโt the sole driver of the decision. It was about timing, relationships, and what was best for both the club and himself. Importantly, he revealed that stepping aside was a mutual call โ not a sacking, not a resignation in anger, but a clear-eyed recognition that a new direction was needed.
Perhaps most telling was Buckleyโs description of the personal toll. Coaching at the top level isnโt just a job โ itโs a life-consuming role. The emotional burden, the scrutiny, the relentless pressure to perform โ it all adds up. Buckley noted that even though he still had the passion, the drive to lead a football club may no longer have matched the demands of the moment.
His departure wasnโt just the end of a tenure โ it marked the closing of a 27-year journey with Collingwood, spanning his time as a player, captain, and coach. Through ups and downs, he remained one of the gameโs most respected figures. And though he left without delivering the club a senior premiership as coach, his influence on Collingwoodโs culture and competitiveness is undeniable.
Looking ahead, Buckley hasnโt ruled out a return to coaching, but for now, heโs embraced the chance to breathe, reset, and explore life outside the AFL pressure cooker. His post-coaching media work and advocacy in AFL matters have shown a different side of the man โ measured, articulate, and deeply connected to the gameโs future.
In the end, Buckley leaves not with bitterness, but with clarity. โIt was time,โ he said simply. A decision born not of failure, but of honesty โ to himself, to the club, and to the game he gave everything to.
