The lure of playing for a famous and big club is massive. Buckley should be admired for his overriding loyalty to Collingwood, but it will cost him big time in the end. Could've had 3 premiership medals as a player had he stayed at Brisbane. Even after his playing career ended at Collingwood, he could've gone elsewhere and made a name for himself as a coach just like Barassi post Melbourne, Sheedy post Richmond, Malthouse (not in Buckley's league as a player) post Richmond.
Eddie couldn't bear to see Buckley at another club and went about transitioning from a successful experienced coach to a novice. You don't remove a coach when he has the club at the pointy end of the ladder. Buckley could've put his own stamp on another team that changed coaches because they were not performing, as did Hardwick.
As it stands, I can't see Buckley surviving at Collingwood. Don't expect Collingwood to be playing finals in 2021, and without Eddie, Buckley will be skating on thin ice.
well brisbane at the time was a bit of a basketcase, it wasn't until 1999 when things started to look up...