Nathan Buckley says a return to AFL coaching is “something I’m looking at” amid curiosity about multiple vacant roles.
Asked point-blank if he would take a call from the West Coast Eagles about their now-open coaching position, he didn’t shut it down.
The Eagles and Adam Simpson parted ways on Tuesday, with midfield assistant Jarrad Schofield assuming the interim reins until the end of the season.
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The 51-year-old Buckley, who ceased his Collingwood coaching tenure midway through the 2021 season after almost 10 years at the helm, has also recently been linked with the Tasmanian coaching vacancy.
On Fox Footy’s post-match coverage on Friday night, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph put the question candidly to the now-analyst.
Ralph: “Bucks, West Coast job — interested?”
Buckley: “I’m too busy coaching Port Adelaide, Adelaide and Tassie,” he joked to the chuckles of Lions legend Jonathan Brown and four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis.
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Melbourne great Garry Lyon wasn’t satisfied with that response, pressing further: “I don’t think we got an answer. So, will you take a call from West Coast or not?”
Buckley: “I’m too busy, mate …”
Lyon: “No, no, no, don’t fob us off. You’re part of our team, we want to know if you’ll take a call from West Coast.”
Buckley: “So that’s a media question, I’ll give you the answer: I don’t like the fact that coaches that are currently in their places get rained on and that I’m the bloke that always gets the question about it.”
Lyon: “He (Simpson) is not coaching anymore. So, there’s a vacancy, you’re hot property, you’re a Fox Sports man, our man, and I’m asking you the direct question — would you take a call from West Coast?
Buckley: “I’d take a call from everyone, mate. There’s no caller IDs that I’m picking up all the time.”
Lyon: “I know it’s a shocking position to be in, but everyone’s going to ask you, so we’ve got to ask you.”
Buckley: “I still don’t know if I’ve got my hand up to coach, but it’s something that I’m looking at.”
Lyon: “That’s all we need, and I know it’s difficult, mate, but we’ve got to ask — so there’s our headline,” he said, causing the panel to break into a fit of laughter.
Schofield, meantime, has wasted no time settling into his new gig, issuing a selection statement by dropping veteran forward Jack Darling for the first time in his career.
One of the knocks on Simpson during the latter stages of his time in charge was that he wasn’t properly developing the club’s emerging talent.
Ahead of their Sunday afternoon clash with the Lions, the Eagles have recalled Harry Edwards (23 years old, 33 AFL games), Luke Edwards (22, 34 games), Zane Trew (22, seven games) and Ryan Maric (19, 23 games), with Jeremy McGovern (injured), Josh Rotham (omitted) and Campbell Chesser (omitted) joining Darling as the exclusions.
It’s expected West Coast fans will have the opportunity to honour Simpson pre-game at Optus Stadium when he tosses the coin before the first bounce, having declined the offer to coach a farewell match.