View Full Version : Do we want Buckley back????
Maverick
19 Apr 2002, 10:14
From lions.com.au -
‘AGELESS’ BUCKLEY CRAVES SUCCESS
Former Brisbane Bear and current Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley wants to keep playing deep into his 30s, and would consider leaving the black and whites if he doesn’t start tasting some team success. In a wide-ranging interview, Buckley reportedly said he wanted to play until he was at least 35 and probably older, but more interesting was his comments about leaving Collingwood. Buckley publicly stated when he left the Bears that he wanted to play in finals regularly. He has played in a solitary final – in 1994 – while some of the Brisbane players he left have now played in 13, including a grand final. "Say we had three years like the last 10, I don't know how long I would last. I'd want to be part of a successful team,” Buckley reportedly said.
Maverick
19 Apr 2002, 10:23
It's a tough one. He is a great player. I would love him back.
Only problem is, if we struggle for success in 2-3 years, will he then want leave again.
IMO, if we get 2-4 good years out of him, he will then be mid 30s and past his best. So we have nothing to lose.
Having said that, you would not trade a top 15 rated player for him.
BrisGirl
19 Apr 2002, 11:17
Absolutely, no way!
Voss, Black, Aka and Lappin are enough.
Plus, didn't Buckley leave us in the first place, chasing a 'Flag'.
That type of thinking is what we don't need. He is not a team player.
Affectively, he has just told his 'team mates at Collingwood' that:- 'if you don't put in and get me a Flag, I am leaving'.
There is not 'I' in team but you can find a 'Me' in there, just ask Buckley.
Cyclops
19 Apr 2002, 11:23
Don't you mean to say: There's no "I" in "Team", but there is in "Champion"?
Maverick
19 Apr 2002, 11:37
Bring back Figjam.
:)
cjwalkley
19 Apr 2002, 11:45
Originally posted by Cyclops
Don't you mean to say: There's no "I" in "Team", but there is in "Champion"?
...and there's no 'Nathan' in Premiership!!:D
BrisGirl
19 Apr 2002, 11:50
Originally posted by Cyclops
Don't you mean to say: There's no "I" in "Team", but there is in "Champion"?
I never said he wasn't a Champion.
I have always said, 'it takes 18 men on the field to win a game, not one'. Buckley always plays the game like he is to win it off his own boot. He is not one to show much faith in his fellow team-mates.
That is shown in his recent statement, that he is prepared to leave them to play Finals footy.
He is a one-man show at Collingwood. I could probably name two other players in Collingwood, at a stretch. That is because when people in the Media say anything about Collingwood, it will always revolve around Buckley.
That is not his fault, but it is pretty much how Collingwood is perceived to me. Collingwood is Buckley and that is how he plays.
BrainOfMorbius
19 Apr 2002, 11:54
If he was available, you'd have to look at him.
Originally posted by Maverick
It's a tough one. He is a great player. I would love him back.
Only problem is, if we struggle for success in 2-3 years, will he then want leave again.
IMO, if we get 2-4 good years out of him, he will then be mid 30s and past his best. So we have nothing to lose.
Having said that, you would not trade a top 15 rated player for him.
I don't think there was much indication in the report of Buckley leaving Collingwood in the short term. From the sounds of it, he is basis his statement on a further 3 or so years, lacking success.
Buckley turns 30 in July this year. Therefore, if his earlier statement is any indication, he's unlikely to be on the market until his early to mid 30's or so. I'd say that this would only leave him 2 or so productive years as a player.
At any rate, unless a direct trade can be done, I doubt the Lions would have much chance of picking him up. I don't really think it's worth the Lions breaking their backs over a player coming towards the end of their career (which would be the case for Buckley, in a few years time). It may be different if he were to looking to move at the end of this season - however, I still don't think it's worth the club breaking its back over such a move.
I'm not sure where this interview has come from, but to some extent, it tends to sound like an attempt on Buckley's part to improve his status at Collingwood - perhaps in terms of a higher salary. I mean, what is the point in coming out and making a public statement like the above, apart from wanting to shake up a few people at Collingwood?
LIONS2001
22 Apr 2002, 23:01
Would rather spend the money it would cost to get him on developing some younger players. Nathan Buckley wouldn't fit in at Brisbane because he would hate to not be the centre of attention.
Besides, where would we fit him in? he'd be starting off the bench.
Although Nathan has had a great individual career so far and still has a couple of good seasons remaining in him it is doubtful what benefit he would bring to the couple.
I drafting or trading your way to buckley it will cost either talented youth or quality senior player. Currently we have the undesputed best centre line and onballers in the land and Buckley would only create another one. Simon Black is developing into a player who will be as good as Buckley Voss and the like when he is fully mature I believe (about another 2 seasons), thus creating the problem of where to put him.
Buckley also creates another serious problem which I believe makes this debate void the salary cap, where do you find the 500K he would demand. The money just isn't there, with the emergence of Jonathan Brown and Black they deserve higher wages althugh Lynchy will retire soon it doesn't = 500K.
The is just no place for the guy at Brisbane as much as I respect his skills we can't find the room, if he wants success he may be better off returning to Port or looking at another Victorian club.
pride01
23 Apr 2002, 00:31
What an unproffessional thing for him to say. I feel sorry for Magpie fans that have a captain that openly talks about bailing out. I'd be pretty peeved if Vossy said something similiar in few years.
I agree with your point about the salary cap slax. Too much money for player nearing the end much better spent keeping talent at the Lions. That and the fact that's why he left Brisbane in the first place.
It'd be nice to take him just to annoy Eddie McEgo though.
SpecialBruce
23 Apr 2002, 00:46
Hell no! Buckley is the most overrated player in the AFL and the most pathetic one. Those comments were pathetic. After what he said, he doesn't deserve a Brownlow. He won't get one anyway, there are far too many people I would rate a higher chance of getting one.
lioness
25 Apr 2002, 14:52
Originally posted by cjwalkley
...and there's no 'Nathan' in Premiership!!:D
:D :D :D :D
I agree with SpecialBruce, I reckon Buckley is over-rated.
Dr Raines
26 Apr 2002, 21:04
Buckley is a superb player with good skill. The thing that impresses me is the way he approaches the game. Nathan is consistent week in week out and if he is on offer, I would like to see him in Brisbane again somehow.
Lionel Lyon
27 Apr 2002, 05:07
Originally posted by Stocka
It may be different if he were to looking to move at the end of this season - however, I still don't think it's worth the club breaking its back over such a move.
Naah, I doubt we'd ever take him back. It's not bad blood, but taking him on would seem to go against Brisbane recruiting policy of recent times. Nowadays we tend not to seek made players (esp. big name ones) from other Clubs (Pikey, Michael, Martyn being happy exceptions to the general trend--Lynch. Lambert etc. are from another recruiting era), but "roll our own" with younger draftees. If he were to leave (big if) the Woods, I think Bucks'd have more chance of ending up at Sydney (who seem to specialize in older recruitment), or maybe even Port, whence he came.
Who's he overrated by? Not the general public who have him outright favourite for the Brownlow.