Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the happiness and contentedness of playing groups are underrated factors of success in the AFL.
The question has been raised whether Geelong’s group may feel content given they’ve started the 2023 season 0-3 coming off a premiership.
Buckley believes teams simply won't get the best out of themselves if they’re plagued by either factor throughout a season.
“Happiness and contentment is a massive element that we underrate,” Buckley said on SEN Whateley.
“We might speculate on, ‘Oh, that’s not a happy group at the moment’, if you’re not happy, you’re not going to get the best out of yourselves.
“You’re not going to contribute ultimately to this organisation that you’re a part of that’s bigger than you.”
Reflecting on his final season as coach of the Magpies, Buckley believes unhappiness played a big factor in the club’s disastrous campaign that saw them finish 17th after three consecutive finals campaigns.
“In ’21, we weren’t happy,” Buckley said.
“As a club, the players weren’t happy, (caused by) a little of the trade period, a little bit of the Do Better report.
“There was unrest in the environment, and it came out in our performance.”
Looking closely at Geelong, Buckley doesn’t believe there’s unrest in the playing group and predicted the side to bounce back once some senior players return and they begin hosting games at GMHBA Stadium.
“I don’t know whether there’s unrest at Geelong, I don’t think there is,” Buckley said.
“I think they’re united and I think they’re a solid club.
“There are competitive advantages they haven’t been able to access yet – when they play at GMHBA – that will be an opportunity to reinforce their competitive advantages.
“I still think there are personnel issues – Tom Hawkins isn’t fit, Mitch Duncan makes them a different side … they’re still trying to find a way to settle without Joel Selwood in the middle.
“There’s plenty of questions … that’s the job of a coaching staff to find the answers to those questions … to win a game of footy, get the four points and move onto the next.”
Geelong’s first game at GMHBA Stadium comes in Round 6 when they host Sydney on April 22 in a Grand Final rematch.