Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has given his thoughts on the parting of ways between his old club and Nathan Buckley.
McGuire was the key figure in appointing Buckley to the senior coaching role when replacing Mick Malthouse a decade ago and gave his thoughts on AFL 360.
“Emotion was it. It was the closing off, even a further underlining of my time at the club with Nathan,” McGuire said.
“You can’t help but go back to the early days and the dreams and the aspirations. Early on, appointing Nathan (as) the captain, having the great Gavin Brown still there at the club. Having Mick Malthouse come and the excitement early on of what we were able to do.
“Tony Shaw’s handover was very similar to today in many ways. So a lot of emotions of great Collingwood people, that’s ultimately where I was today, just thinking about the people of Collingwood who have given so much to the organisation over the years. There’s no one greater in giving to Collingwood than Nathan Buckley.”
McGuire opted not to weigh in on whether the club had made the right call to move on from club great.
“I’m not going to buy into the decision or not. There’s been plenty of times over the years where I’ve had to decide whether to sack the coach, keep the coach or whatever usually at three-quarter time,” he said.
“In the end, I think what Nathan Buckley said today and with Mark Anderson and Graham Wright – it was a coming together of circumstances. Ultimately, everyone did the right thing by the club.
“That’s what I was most proud of today and I’m just so delighted that Nathan will get the accolades that he deserves. As somebody who’s always done the right thing, not only by Collingwood, but by the game in general. And his finish is just the same way as he’s always been, he’s done the right thing.
“Ultimately, he tells me that he believes in his heart that it was the right thing to do. It probably will be, as we all take a deep breath, the best thing for him and his family as well. And a next chapter will open up, an extraordinary career and life of Nathan Buckley. I have no doubt that he has further glories to attain.”
Buckley will lead the club one last time on Monday for the Queen’s Birthday clash with Melbourne.
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