Nathan Buckley lauds Brett Kirk

scottwade

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http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=54430

NATHAN BUCKLEY has spoken of his admiration for former Sydney Swans counterpart Brett Kirk.Buckley, the former Collingwood skipper who retired at the end of the 2007 season, thinks Kirk’s leadership qualities are among the finest in the AFL.
Buckley said while he had obviously not been involved in the Swans’ inner sanctum, he was an admirer of Kirk throughout his playing days as he believes the fearless onballer embodied all the attributes required of a leader.
While the Magpies' champ formed his own inspirational leadership style during his nine-year reign as captain, he says he kept a close eye on how Kirk went about his job.
“It wasn’t so much modelling myself on him but just being so impressed from what I saw from outside,” Buckley said.
“Just the way he assumed the mantle of embodying what the playing group wanted to be like.
"From afar, he just looks like just a spiritual leader, as having a great empathy for the rest of the players,” he said.
“Obviously, he seems to have a great ability to draw the boys together and I just think he’s been great … in the way he’s represented their club.”
The six-time Copeland Trophy winner did see first-hand how the Swans co-captain went about things on the field when the pair were pitted against each other on several occasions.
“It wasn’t about natural talent and it wasn’t about the things that come easy, it was about the things that come hard to you … playing hard football and playing physical one-on-one football – he’s always embodied that,” Buckley said.
Kirk started his career on the Swans’ supplementary list and had to convince the club to give him another shot after being discarded after the 1998 season.
Buckley praised Kirk, who made his debut in 1999 and is now regarded as one of the competition’s most hard-working and fearless players, for his desire to get the most out of his footballing ability.
“I said early on and he would say now [that] he’s got limited natural talent compared to the rest of the AFL competition, but natural talent gets you [only] so far,” Buckley said.
“It probably could get you to the AFL alone, but after that it’s the hard work and dedication that you need to put in. [Looking] from afar, he just strikes me as a guy that’s made the very most of what he’s got.
“It’s not about his natural talent, it’s about how hard he’s worked.
“He just strikes me as a guy, from when I first saw him play to where he’s gone to, his football development has got a larger spectrum than a lot of guys.”
Couldn't have said it better myself. :)
 

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is2SWaNz

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Jarrad McVeigh
#9
I'm quite glad that other captains, or former captains have acknowledged the great leadership of Brett Kirk. I seriously hope we go back to one captain before Kirk retires, but am I simply stating the impossible?
 

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flight23

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here here, kirky will never be considered an icon of the game, however he certainly shouldn't have to live in kelly's shadow

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