Source: http://collingwoodfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=234243
Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley has put pen to paper on a new one year contract with the Collingwood Football Club.
Buckley said he was delighted to finalise the deal ahead the commencement of pre-season next Monday, vowing to put an injury interrupted 2005 behind him.
Successful surgery to his troublesome hamstring saw a rejuvenated Buckley finish 2005 as one of Collingwood best for the second half of the season. While Buckley believes his business is far from done at the Magpies, looking to extend his playing days beyond the one year deal, he believes the new contract offers a realistic period to assess each season on its merits.
“It was never really a major issue for myself although it’s been the closest I’ve gone to being uncontracted for quite a deal of time.
“I’m happy to have signed a one year contract with the club with a view to having a look - year by year – at how I’m travelling. It protects both parties in that way - ‘how I’m travelling, how the body’s going’.
“ We’ll get together at the end of next year and have a look at whether we’ll go for one more or two more – or how that goes – but it will definitely be year by year at this stage.”
Buckley also made comment at speculation surround the Collingwood captaincy for 2006, saying that Magpie Coach Mick Malthouse was yet to make a decision, but will have his support in whatever he decides.
“I’m amazed at how much focus there is on (the captaincy). Captains are never decided on in October! We met together as the leadership group today, and discussed what we were going to put in place over at Flagstaff.
“I suppose we spoke about who was going to be involved in the leadership group and I think that you need to get that settled before you can look at who is going to captain the club.
“I can guarantee the Collingwood people - and they are the people who really matter - that the person who leads the club next season will be the best person for it, whether it’s me or some one else. I’m sure that the playing group and staff will have their say – but it comes down to Mick in the end and he’ll choose the best man for the job.”
Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley has put pen to paper on a new one year contract with the Collingwood Football Club.
Buckley said he was delighted to finalise the deal ahead the commencement of pre-season next Monday, vowing to put an injury interrupted 2005 behind him.
Successful surgery to his troublesome hamstring saw a rejuvenated Buckley finish 2005 as one of Collingwood best for the second half of the season. While Buckley believes his business is far from done at the Magpies, looking to extend his playing days beyond the one year deal, he believes the new contract offers a realistic period to assess each season on its merits.
“It was never really a major issue for myself although it’s been the closest I’ve gone to being uncontracted for quite a deal of time.
“I’m happy to have signed a one year contract with the club with a view to having a look - year by year – at how I’m travelling. It protects both parties in that way - ‘how I’m travelling, how the body’s going’.
“ We’ll get together at the end of next year and have a look at whether we’ll go for one more or two more – or how that goes – but it will definitely be year by year at this stage.”
Buckley also made comment at speculation surround the Collingwood captaincy for 2006, saying that Magpie Coach Mick Malthouse was yet to make a decision, but will have his support in whatever he decides.
“I’m amazed at how much focus there is on (the captaincy). Captains are never decided on in October! We met together as the leadership group today, and discussed what we were going to put in place over at Flagstaff.
“I suppose we spoke about who was going to be involved in the leadership group and I think that you need to get that settled before you can look at who is going to captain the club.
“I can guarantee the Collingwood people - and they are the people who really matter - that the person who leads the club next season will be the best person for it, whether it’s me or some one else. I’m sure that the playing group and staff will have their say – but it comes down to Mick in the end and he’ll choose the best man for the job.”
