Buckley in line for round 19
03 August 2007 Herald Sun
COLLINGWOOD captain Nathan Buckley could play his first game for the season as soon as next weekend. <LI class=video-link>Video: Malthouse on Buckley (high) | (low)
Buckley has been kept from playing by a series of hamstring problems, which the 35-year-old admitted recently had created doubts about whether he would play again.
But Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said today the skipper had been training strongly in recent days and a return to football now appeared imminent.
"That latest injury was always going to be a two to three-week injury and it's two weeks this week,'' Malthouse said today.
"That's why I say that perhaps next week wouldn't be out of the question. But I don't want to load him up (with expectation) too much.''
Told that Buckley had said he was probably a fortnight away, Malthouse said he was surprised.
"Just the way he's training, he's training very well,'' he said.
"Maybe he's taking the heat off himself, maybe I just put the heat back on him.''
Malthouse said Buckley would definitely return through VFL affiliate Williamstown, before returning to the Magpies, saying the possibility of him coming straight into the senior side was ``not a temptation at all''.
He said even if things did not go as hoped and Buckley had another setback, he was determined to ensure his career did not finish without playing another match.
"If all things fell apart and we got to round 22 and Nathan hadn't played, he will play,'' Malthouse said.
":But I'm trusting that we're not in that position, I'd rather not be in that position, put it that way.
"I'd never let him - given the hard work he's done and what he's done for this football club - walk away without having some reception from his team-mates, the club and his supporters.''
Meanwhile, Malthouse said he expected veteran defender James Clement to be at his best, despite returning from a long injury absence, against Carlton at the MCG tomorrow.
He expected a strong challenge from the Blues, who are fielding an extremely inexperienced team under caretaker coach Brett Ratten.
"I like the Carlton side, I think it's one for the future, starting now,'' he said.
- AAP
03 August 2007 Herald Sun
Buckley has been kept from playing by a series of hamstring problems, which the 35-year-old admitted recently had created doubts about whether he would play again.
But Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said today the skipper had been training strongly in recent days and a return to football now appeared imminent.
"That latest injury was always going to be a two to three-week injury and it's two weeks this week,'' Malthouse said today.
"That's why I say that perhaps next week wouldn't be out of the question. But I don't want to load him up (with expectation) too much.''
Told that Buckley had said he was probably a fortnight away, Malthouse said he was surprised.
"Just the way he's training, he's training very well,'' he said.
"Maybe he's taking the heat off himself, maybe I just put the heat back on him.''
Malthouse said Buckley would definitely return through VFL affiliate Williamstown, before returning to the Magpies, saying the possibility of him coming straight into the senior side was ``not a temptation at all''.
He said even if things did not go as hoped and Buckley had another setback, he was determined to ensure his career did not finish without playing another match.
"If all things fell apart and we got to round 22 and Nathan hadn't played, he will play,'' Malthouse said.
":But I'm trusting that we're not in that position, I'd rather not be in that position, put it that way.
"I'd never let him - given the hard work he's done and what he's done for this football club - walk away without having some reception from his team-mates, the club and his supporters.''
Meanwhile, Malthouse said he expected veteran defender James Clement to be at his best, despite returning from a long injury absence, against Carlton at the MCG tomorrow.
He expected a strong challenge from the Blues, who are fielding an extremely inexperienced team under caretaker coach Brett Ratten.
"I like the Carlton side, I think it's one for the future, starting now,'' he said.
- AAP
