Toast Nathan Buckley.

[Pie eyed]

So now, how does the decision to put in place an agreed succession look?

It looks better every game from my POV.

 

[September Action]

The team is playing for him.

He looks calm in the box.

He makes good moves at the right times on the field.

He has made the transition from an overly strict boundary game plan to a more flexible, imaginative one.

And he has done all this in a short time and with an injury ravaged list, and as a result is overseeing the development of many youngsters on our list.

And also Bucks is looking like he's reasonably relaxed and enjoying himself, which was possibly a lot of people's major concern in that he'd be too tense and obsessive and take the all the fun out of it - and would 'lose' the players.

The way he has handled MM's comments etc has been a blessing for his public perception, so that many haters now have a new respect for him.

Still, there's lots of challenges yet to come, but it's a perfect start to his hopefully very long and successful coaching career.

Great work Bucks

This and this and this.

I was one who questioned whether he might be a flop. Particularly given the well documented leadership issues he had as captain / FIGJAM persona etc.

The way he has conducted himself, the poise, the willingness to learn. It's been uber impressive. The handling of the MM situation both last year and especially a few weeks back didn't just ooze class, it was pure genius. In one press conference, Bucks' diffused the situation and made it disappear. (Obviously, winning despite the injury toll has also helped with this.)

Ultimately the proof will be in the pudding - we are, after all, only 9 weeks in - but so far so good and I am feeling a lot more comfortable about our coaching plan than I was at this stage last year.

On a side note, it's interesting that the assistants who MM strongly endorsed, being Neeld and Scott, are currently struggling whilst the two he couldn't bring himself to publicly back (Bucks and Watters), are going from strength to strength. Was MM inherently drawn to the former two more because they were simply less of a threat whereas Bucks and Watters were always more "birds of a feather" to Mick? Men he couldn't let in as they were true rivals to his alpha male status.

 

[dansa]

How did we lose to them again?

Do you remember the posts you wrote about Buckley after the loss to Carlton? I do.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

Watch the replay again, he definitely says "what an f***ing beauty" after Steele's last goal.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

So now, how does the decision to put in place an agreed succession look?

It looks better every game from my POV.

Things seem to have gone quiet on the main board re the Malthouse-Buckley
transition....where are the critics now?

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Don't want to derail but should some credit go to Harvery? Can the bloke coach? Because the emphasis on giving more midfield time to blokes like Blair, Sidebottom and Beams he flagged even before Ball went down and they have stoop up.

Getting those three to step up was a nobrainer. I'm not so sure about Harvey just yet.

 

[Markfs]

I don't think it turned our season around. A press conference didn't turn a season around. And we weren't shot 6 weeks ago to anyone but the media.

All Bucks has done is not buy into the bullshit that the media goes through (and people on this forum) over-sensationalising down times, and then appointing a hero in the good times....

Bucks has been very good all the way through.

I dont think its easy to handle the situation 6 or 7 weeks ago. It may not have turned a season around, but it won the media over and has kept the bullshiters on the back foot, as you said. I dont think that its as easy as you might think. Pressure is pressure, even if it's built on bullshit. Bucks looks like he will be a very good coach.

 

[SnakePlisskin]

Watch the replay again, he definitely says "what an f***ing beauty" after Steele's last goal.

It's a pissa watching him swear in the box.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think it was a turning point, maybe not a season definer, but it defintely set a tone that Bucks was not going to worry about anything outside of the club, and that the new coach was buying into the Nick Maxwell leadership plan of "if you're outside the club we don't care about you".

I think it was a turning point, and example that led us to galvanise as a playing group, and start to build towards being the team we saw last night.

I don't think it would have been a turning point for 'inside' the club, e.g. it wouldn't have changed what we do and our performances, but it would be a turning point for outsiders, e.g. how they view Buckley as coach, his philosophy, etc.

Internally, I would surprised (and shocked) if it had any real effect at all. Let's not forget, we lost to two premiership contenders...

I like what you also said about the coaches (although wouldn't mind more of an articulation as to why Ben Hart is the 'best defensive coach in the game').

 

[Old Spice]

He's doing a great job, for sure, but seriously only complete nuffies would have been calling for his head after a couple of rounds. We're tapering toward the end of the season, adapting to a new gameplan, and people think he can't coach because we lose to Hawthorn and Carlton in a 3-game-stretch?

People need to get some freakin' perspective.

While only nuff-nuffs came out directly after a few rounds to assail Buckley, there were some staking out positions, waiting for a chance to say I told you so if things went pear-shaped.

I knew bucks would be a good coach when i heard/saw him commentating. Seriously smart guy.

However, his biggest strength has been his willingness to learn. If you read his book, this may have been a weakness early in his career as he was so damn talented.

Also great he is sticking it up opposition supporters who said he would fail due to the false figjam tag.

I don't quite agree. Definitely on the eagerness to learn, but his elite status was won through just a relentless regime of self-examination. Buckley is the self-made man in the truest sense of the world. I think he is naturally an introvert who just popped himself inside out.

He just is looking to absorb everything he can, and that stands even moreso in terms of personality. He won a battle within himself in terms of his own football career, but has done all he can to establish relationships in his latter career. That is much to his credit.

I don't think it would have been a turning point for 'inside' the club, e.g. it wouldn't have changed what we do and our performances, but it would be a turning point for outsiders, e.g. how they view Buckley as coach, his philosophy, etc.

Internally, I would surprised (and shocked) if it had any real effect at all. Let's not forget, we lost to two premiership contenders...

I like what you also said about the coaches (although wouldn't mind more of an articulation as to why Ben Hart is the 'best defensive coach in the game').

I think that's true. Buckley's strength is an unremitting analysis and obsession with the game and preparation. He leaves as little to chance as is humanly possible. But I think we should give some credit to his media performance.

He could have been wooden or with justification somewhat embittered, but it could not have been so because Buckley is the eternal self-inventor, almost to the point of self-flagellation. He took Mick's commentary with good grace and, typically, as another life lesson.

The way he handled the situation was genuine which is why it cut-through. The media I think have a lot of time for Buckley and that will go no small way to alleviating pressure in our tribulations of the future.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

I don't quite agree. Definitely on the eagerness to learn, but his elite status was won through just a relentless regime of self-examination. Buckley is the self-made man in the truest sense of the world. I think he is naturally an introvert who just popped himself inside out.

He just is looking to absorb everything he can, and that stands even moreso in terms of personality. He won a battle within himself in terms of his own football career, but has done all he can to establish relationships in his latter career. That is much to his credit.

Yeah i probably didn't explain my point too well but you have explained what i sort of meant. From my perspective, it appears bucks found it hard to communicate with others and hence probably learn from others.This is where you mentioned introverted which is probably true.

He has always been extremely self motivated but i think he may have struggled to motivate and understand people who were not as motivated as him. Even during his captaincy, i believe he was a "follow my actions" leader and not a consoling type of leader to the other players.

He is definitely on the way to proving all his doubters wrong and there were a lot of them.

 

[Kirby]

The media certainly love him. Only this morning Robert Walls referred to him as the biggest winner of the year so far, which was agreed to by Tim Watson (on SEN).

There are many positive comments coming from the likes of Brereton, Roos and Grant Thomas, just to name a few.

 

[4#Didak#4]

Given the challenges he has faced early on he has been very good - all round. That is what has impressed me most, in all areas he has been good. We know he has a great football brain, but his media work and his player management has been really good.

I think everyone knew MM was one of the great motivators and we would perhaps lose a little in this regard with Bucks, but he is holding his own there and as an overall package (with lots of room to improve & learn) it is proving to be a good move overall.

I am loving his on field tactics, I already feel he is better at reacting in games than MM. Mick was stubborn - this can be a good trait, however it did mean he could spite himself. Buckley is flexible and can adapt to the opposition. He is happy to try new things whilst still backing his players in.

As a supporter, one of things i like best is he addresses supporter (& media) questions & concerns up front. Even if they seem stupid questions to him. He won't dance around them or avoid them, even if its uncomfortable. Like Cloke's form during contract negotiations, loved the answer, he could have said not a problem etc etc, but he doesn't treat people as dumbasses.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Love his emotion levels in the box.

Not like the bipolar Chris Scott, but then not like Mick or Dean Bailey who were basically stone faced for the whole 2 hours or so.

Gets excited when it's warranted, and pissed off when it's warranted. I wish 30% of the match was just footgae of Bucks in the box. God I love him.

So so so so so so so much.

 

[Temploar]

Love his emotion levels in the box.

Not like the bipolar Chris Scott, but then not like Mick or Dean Bailey who were basically stone faced for the whole 2 hours or so.

Gets excited when it's warranted, and pissed off when it's warranted. I wish 30% of the match was just footgae of Bucks in the box. God I love him.

So so so so so so so much.

It's like his still part of the team, fistpumps, clapping, cheering the boys on. Gotta love it.

 

[eddiebankbalance]

The media certainly love him. Only this morning Robert Walls referred to him as the biggest winner of the year so far, which was agreed to by Tim Watson (on SEN).

There are many positive comments coming from the likes of Brereton, Roos and Grant Thomas, just to name a few.

Seriously, how could anyone say anything negative about him. Regardless of our winning streak, he is ticking all the right boxes.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Seriously, how could anyone say anything negative about him. Regardless of our winning streak, he is ticking all the right boxes.

He has been ticking the right boxes since the day the transitional coaching arrangement was set in place. Before that in fact. Hes being doing it since he stepped off the plane from Brisbane.

The facts have never stopped people saying negative things about him. They will be back, as soon as we lose a game or two.

 

[The Average Tourist]

It's like his still part of the team, fistpumps, clapping, cheering the boys on. Gotta love it.

I think this quote sums it up the best.


He is not only the coach but he is a Collingwood Supporter like the rest of us.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

He has been ticking the right boxes since the day the transitional coaching arrangement was set in place. Before that in fact. Hes being doing it since he stepped off the plane from Brisbane.

The facts have never stopped people saying negative things about him. They will be back, as soon as we lose a game or two.

Have to lose one first

 

[Avatar]

I dont think its easy to handle the situation 6 or 7 weeks ago. It may not have turned a season around, but it won the media over and has kept the bullshiters on the back foot, as you said. I dont think that its as easy as you might think. Pressure is pressure, even if it's built on bullshit. Bucks looks like he will be a very good coach.

Agreed.

Very impressed with Buckley's first 9 rounds as coach. As well as the good fit of the entire coaching panel as mentioned by others, I think the existence of such great on-field leaders (Maxwell, Ball, Pendlebury) has us in a very enviable position in terms of leadership.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Bucks has captured nearly everyone's support in the past 6 weeks since his coaching was questioned by the media, in particular Wayne Carey.

I prefer him to MM now. I like his demeanour, always calm and confident, leaving no stone unturned with his responses to questions.

Team selections have been spot on. The experiments with players, particularly Sinclair and Goldsack, have been largely successful. Out of necessity he has tried new players, once again with a large degree of success, and he has not just tried the same players over and over, but has instead introduced 6 new players already.

To say anymore would be to repeat what others have said. 4#Didak#4 above pretty much echoes my own feelings and observations on Buckley.

 

[Smokeyr67]

It's nice to see threads on the mainboard about coaches under threat, and Bucks doesn't even raise a whisper.. what a difference a few weeks can make.

On a side note, heard him on MMM's motor program on sat morning - he is the consumate media professional, affable and knowledgable, open and honest.

 

[rose jam]

We probably would have won last year if he had coached, I always thought this.

Once a coach has been around a while and finally wins a flag it's time for them to move out immediately.

 

[September Action]

We probably would have won last year if he had coached, I always thought this.

Once a coach has been around a while and finally wins a flag it's time for them to move out immediately.

Big call!

 

[ipswichpies]

The thing I like about Buckley,s has been his positivity and his coaching moves we have seen more moves this year than we have for a long time.He is developing into a very good match day coach who does not miss a trick and also with his team of coaches is doing a wonderful job with our young players.

I don,t know about other people but I get with Buckley areal sense of competence and confidence with Buckley he really won me over with his presser when Ed and MM were going at it and he just diffused it.