Nathan Buckley
| Nathan Buckley | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Original team(s) | Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) | ||
| Debut | Round 1, March 27, 1993, Brisbane Bears vs. North Melbourne, at Melbourne Cricket Ground | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of R22, 2006. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Nathan Buckley (born July 26, 1972) is an Australian rules football player and former captain of the Collingwood Football Club. He is one of the most notable players of the game in the last 10 years alongside the likes of Michael Voss, James Hird, Robert Harvey and Wayne Carey.
Early career
Buckley was born in Adelaide, South Australia on July 26, 1972. His family travelled around Australia quite frequently. By the age of 12, Buckley had been to all major states on the Australian mainland. However he spent the majority of his football developing years (aged around 10-17) in South Australia so is widely regarded as a South Australian. Also under the now defunct State of Origin competition he was eligible for The Allies, a team that was an amalgamation of players from Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.[1]
Buckley's footballing talents were noticed from an early age, and pursued a career in the sport at the same time. He joined Port Adelaide and won the Magarey Medal (the SANFL's highest individual award) in 1992.
Buckley caused controversy when he was drafted by the struggling Brisbane Bears through its Northern Territory state zone. Buckley at first resisted moving to Brisbane—having barracked for the Collingwood Football Club from a young age, his ultimate ambition was to play in Victoria for the famous club, and he felt the Bears were an undesirable career option. However AFL draft rules prevented him from playing elsewhere and so he signed with the Bears for the 1993 season only. He immediately demonstrated his potential, playing 20 games, kicking 21 goals and impressing with his booming kick and his ability to pick the ball up off the ground in even the worst of conditions. As a reward for his brilliant season he was the inaugural winner of the Norwich Rising Star Award and finished a close second in the Bears' best-and-fairest award.
Becoming a Magpie
During his first season it became common knowledge that Buckley had an arrangement with Brisbane to be traded to the club of his choice. At the end of the contract he attracted strong interest from all Melbourne-based clubs, chiefly Collingwood, Geelong and North Melbourne. However it was Collingwood that arranged a trade deal suitable to all parties. The move saw Buckley move to the Magpies in exchange for Craig Starcevich, Troy Lehmann and the Magpies' first-round draft pick (which the Bears used to draft future double-premiership player Chris Scott).
Buckley was adamant that the move was the right career direction, with the belief he had more chance of winning a premiership with the Magpies. Ironically, Brisbane would beat Collingwood in two consecutive AFL Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003.
In his first season with Collingwood, the team would reach the finals, as Buckley thought. The Magpies were eliminated by the West Coast Eagles by 2 points in Perth.
From here, Buckley would be a consistent performer for Collingwood, as well as winning the Brownlow Medal, finishing in the top 3 twice before the turn of the century. He was also named Collingwood's Best & Fairest 6 times in 10 years (including one tied) as well as 6 consecutive years in the All Australian Team from 1996 to 2001.
In 1999, Buckley suffered a serious jaw injury playing against Carlton in Round 2. He would miss 6 games and return in Round 9 to help Collingwood to their first win of the season and their first in 13 matches. Collingwood finished on the bottom this season, the second time in their history. Buckley also competed in the last game at Victoria Park.
Collingwood Captain
In 1999, then-Collingwood captain Gavin Brown retired from AFL football. Buckley was easily the first choice to replace him as captain, and has been captain ever since.
Throughout the late 1990s/early 2000s Collingwood witnessed a change in many of their major positions. Buckley was named captain in 1999, Eddie McGuire became president of club in 1998 and Mick Malthouse was appointed coach in 2000. The three new appointed members immediately started trying to get the team back into the finals, finishing 15th in 2000 and a big improvement of 9th in 2001, with Buckley starring in both seasons.
It was in 2002 that Buckley finally realised he had a chance of achieving his dream, winning the AFL premiership. Though Buckley didn't win the club best & fairest this year, he did have a reasonable year.
On Grand Final day at the MCG, Buckley proved how much he wanted the premiership by being voted the Norm Smith Medalist. This award is sometimes debated though as the judges for the medal have to submit votes 15 minutes before the end of game. Some judges said Michael Voss's last 15 minutes of the game won Brisbane the game. Famously, Buckley removed the Norm Smith Medal from around his neck shortly after it was presented to him, a symbol of his extreme disappointment and overriding dedication to the team effort. Brisbane defeated Collingwood by 9 points (the closest margin since the 1989 Grand Final) and Buckley became the first losing Norm Smith medalist since Gary Ablett in 1989.
In 2003, Buckley received his highest honor, the Brownlow Medal in a thrilling vote that could have seen as many as 9 players go home with a medal, but only three walked away with one (the other two winners were Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide) and Adam Goodes (Sydney).
That Saturday, Buckley played in his second consecutive Grand Final. Brisbane demolished Collingwood from start to finish. Buckley still managed to gain 24 disposals.
After perhaps the best season of his stellar career in 2003, the Magpie skipper endured a 2004 and 2005 season he would rather forget. He started the season in usual domineering fashion in the opening three rounds, but missed seven of the next eight matches with hamstring problems. When he returned, he appeared to play under duress. , perhaps spending more time across half-forward or half-back. Buckley was honoured with life membership of the Collingwood Football Club in 2004.
2006 season
During the 2006 season, Buckley was awarded AFL Life Membership after playing his 300th official match since his debut in 1992, comprising 267 premiership games, 24 preseason games, four state of origin games and four international rules games.
Buckley was rested twice during the season, once for the match against West Coast at Subiaco in Round 7, and again in the Round 21 clash against Carlton. At the end of the 2006 season Buckley announced his retirement as captain of the club, indicating that James Clement would be most likely to take over in the role. The purpose of him resting was to prolong his career, perhaps extending it until 2007 or 2008.
Personal life
On New Years Eve 2002 Buckley married Tania Minnici (famous for wearing a gown with a jewel encrusted g-string to the Brownlow Medal count) and they are expecting their first child in December 2006.
Accomplishments
- Best & Fairest 1994 (equal), 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003
- RT Rush Trophy 1997
- JJ Joyce Trophy 2001
- Club captain since 1999
- 2nd Best & Fairest 1993
Representative Honours
- All Australian Team 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001
- All Australian Team vice-captain 1999, 2000, 2003
- International Rules Series 1998 (captain)
- Jesaulenko Medal 1997
- Allies captain 1997
South Australian National Football League
- Magarey Medal 1992
- Jack Oatey Medal (Grand Final B.O.G.) 1992
- Port Adelaide Football Club best & fairest 1992
Premierships
- SANFL 1992 (Port Adelaide)
Award Lineage
References
- Collingwood FC biography
- AFL "Guide to Season 2005" p. 90-93, 736
External links
- Nathan Buckley's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Nathan Buckley's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
- BuckleySurfers.com - Nathan Buckley Unofficial Fansite