By Dave Harding

Collingwood’s choice to re-sign Nathan Buckley for the next two years will prove to be a good idea, despite the growing pains around the club over the last couple of seasons. Injuries, departures and poor form has seen the Magpies once premiership experience look a little bare.

When Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse came together for the succession plan Buckley was yet to be informed of this, as Eddie said during his Open Mike interview last year. Buckley was courted by the Kangaroos as a possible coach, or assistant coach but he landed an apprenticeship under Malthouse.

His first year was met with drama from the speculation of a rift between he and Mick Malthouse, to the public stoush between Eddie and Mick, and then the claims that players were not keen to play under the former Brownlow medallist.

Teething problems are always expected under new coaches and Nathan Buckley is no different, his new coaching panel and almost revamped list has seen the Pies ready to again contend for a flag in the not so distance future.

Collingwood’s win over the Sydney Swans highlights the fact that the talent is there ready, it showed that Nathan Buckley when the pressure was on was going to make the right moves to win the game. Jack Frost to Lance Franklin proved to be a big moment for fourth gamer and he didn’t let the coach down.

Nathan Buckley was also forced to make some tough decisions over the off season one of which was to see premiership defender Heath Shaw to GWS, and also delisted premiership ruckman Darren Jolly, and also lose Alan Didak at the conclusion of last season as well.

The ‘Pies also decided they were not going to match the offer for Dale Thomas, and he left for the Blues another decision that has divided the Collingwood faithful. The fans have to accept that change is inevitable and you cannot keep a hold of the past.

Nathan Buckley will prove to be a good coach, whether it is with the Collingwood Football Club or not he has the drive and the passion to continue to learn the coaching tole. His passion for football is what lead him to learn under Mick, and learn tactics from the University of  Notre Dame  in the United States.

This Collingwood list will grow into what is needed to win a premiership, a premiership list wasn’t build in a season Mick Malthouse showed us that patience is the key. This season it’s all about playing finals again, and before that  focusing on Geelong this weekend.

Buckley has had the wood over Chris Scott in recent seasons, they last met in Round 8 in which the Pies beat Geelong 15.12.102 to 14.12.96. The loses of Sinclair and Brown who were both good in the backline, was a bit of a blow but returning players Fasolo and Keeffe can certainly.

With Corey Enright in doubt for this game, the Pies’ forward line could get the better of the Cats provided the Magpies win the mdifield battle. Tagging Selwood and making sure Stevie J has no influence on the game could provide the keys to a Magpie victory this weekend.

Article Comments: Bucks Will Bring Success – Dave Harding

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