Predicting the Pies to slide significantly in 2012. I'm still amazed they effectively sacked a coach who finally got some results. Bizarre. Unlike other younger coaches, Buckley has never been an assistant at any other Club, and it's well known Malthouse assigned him menial duties (e.g. the Magnet Board), and left the serious game-day stuff to other assistant coaches. There's always been a bit of hostility between Malthouse and Buckley. Malthouse was never going to hang around. Buckley has taken the soft-option from day 1, by taking a huge salary at the Pies for doing little, and not doing an invaluable apprenticeship elsewhere .
The other problem at Pieland, is Mick didn't really leave the list in a great state. Jolly cost a lot and was recruited for a 1-2 year tilt at the flag before Mick left, and now his chronic knee problem is causing issues, and he's struggling to get on the park. Their other ruck was Leroy Brown, and he's retired. Didak's struggling. Leon is near retirement, and there's question marks about whether their captain deserves a spot in their starting 22. We also know there was huge conflict between Malthouse and Buckley on game day strategy. So now this unknown coach is going to try to come up with a game plan to counter the best teams in the comp. I just don't buy the pro-Collingwood media hype. There's lots of issues that are being glossed over, and their GF humiliation was a little snapshot into their future.