1 hour ago, GS_1905 said:

He always fails to express the benefit in terms of MFC. We have heard the benefit for Trac, Hawthorn, but has he really explored whether its the right move for MFC. Personally i think it is, but thats besides the point. Failing to do so, always creates a perception in the media that we will offload him for a bag of chips. If he was however to say, Dees could get Hawks #7 and future first, then crack on.

I wish I had the foresight to stick up for the Media. I haven't, so they can stick it up, themselves.

6 hours ago, Willmoy1947 said:

In my opinion we would be mad Not to take Buckley.

Character

Tactician

Assertive

Smart.

I have a bunch of other descriptions l wont publish here

6 hours ago, praha said:

Hinkley got them to multiple Prelims. People widely underestimate how hard that is. Geelong, Collingwood are exceptions, not the rule. They make top 4 and got into a position to win. They ultimately faltered. Had we made at least one Prelim in 22 or 23, Goodwin would probably still be coach. Internally at AFL level, there is a lot of weight put onto Prelims.

Also he had an okay list. Imv they significantly over performed with him as coach. The one year with him taking a back seat, they suddenly turn into a potato farm of a team. Not surprising.

That said it was definitely time for a change.

He has won 6 finals from 15 over his thirteen year career

He can coach obviously to get to prelims. But the pathetic performances especially in home prelims were enough to give him the sack a while back

9 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

Honestly i think memories of Mark Neeld will be the reason we're super reluctant to hire any of the potential 5 untried assistants in this process

Also one of the reasons that MFC, as well as other clubs, have a much more rigorous hiring process these days. I don't believe Neeld would get through in 2025, or even get close.

The one thing these processes need to flush out is the difference between being a (very) good assistant and being a head coach where the skills required - especially the people/ management/leadership skills - are very different.

Edited September 1, 2025Sep 1 by bing181

7 hours ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

That alongside the gravitas & strength as a media performer is what appeals!

Buckley is the one who would do more - and probably much more - to bring in sponsors and memberships.

Given the list of candidates and the "vibe" around Buckley, you'd have to wonder whether or not there weren't (discreet) discussions with Buckley before - and possibly long before - Goodwin was moved on.

Guerra and Smith are smart operators, and you don't sack a coach, especially one with the runs on the board, unless you have a fair idea of what comes next.

Hopefully an announcement sooner rather than later.... so we can get in the ear of potential players trades

Listening to Buckley on the couch, it must be difficult to discuss as he stated the fit has to be correct for both, I think he would be far different than he was at the pies

The Couch coaching panel should be assembled

Bucks head coach

Would love Lewis as an assistant

& why not Browny as forward line coach

35 minutes ago, Demonsone said:

Listening to Buckley on the couch, it must be difficult to discuss as he stated the fit has to be correct for both, I think he would be far different than he was at the pies

Played a very straight bat did bucks..

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Given the list of candidates and the "vibe" around Buckley, you'd have to wonder whether or not there weren't (discreet) discussions with Buckley before - and possibly long before - Goodwin was moved on.

Guerra and Smith are smart operators, and you don't sack a coach, especially one with the runs on the board, unless you have a fair idea of what comes next.

Of course feelers were put out... Stuff like that happens in a lot of fields of endeavour. .

What you're witnessing is often called in the vernacular as... Plan B

The same way players are sussed out, managers approached plus any number of things that need to happen in the background.

Im heartened to see the club hasn't been totally asleep at the wheel... indeed been quite proactive.

Hope for us yet.

"The game plan stuff is totally irrelevant"

Nathan Buckley on candidating for the MFC coaching position.

1 hour ago, Rednblueriseing said:

Hopefully an announcement sooner rather than later.... so we can get in the ear of potential players trades

Yep agreed.

We need a coach for stability.

We need a coach to decide on who stays and more importantly who comes in as a result of who goes.

This is honestly getting a bit silly now! Can anyone actually see us passing on Nathan Buckley and signing James Kelly?

That feels as unlikely as Nathan Buckley to waste his or our time interviewing for a job he doesn’t want.

we want him, he wants us, the whole footy world needs it. Just make the call and save our time, effort and money and respect these 5 assistants time.

1 minute ago, Ted Lasso said:

This is honestly getting a bit silly now! Can anyone actually see us passing on Nathan Buckley and signing James Kelly?

That feels as unlikely as Nathan Buckley to waste his or our time interviewing for a job he doesn’t want.

we want him, he wants us, the whole footy world needs it. Just make the call and save our time, effort and money and respect these 5 assistants time.

Yes.

8 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Played a very straight bat did bucks..

Very,very straight bat.

I said this very early on when Steven Smith and Paul Guerra were appointed as President and CEO respectively.

Very rarely do incoming leadership changes within professional sporting organisations continue on with the same onfield regime the following year.

They want their own man to put in place.

I've racked my brain as to why Alan Richardson has been retained in his position as GM of football when quiet frankly he has overseen most of the [censored] that has taken place in the last 3-4 year period with our culture.

Is it the reluctance of another soft cap pay out?

Is it the optics of futher upheaval in our footy dept.

Is it to retain him to pass on knowledge of each player to the incoming coach?

Or is it to pick his brain on a relationship with a contending candidate for the coaching job?

A candidate that SS and PG like and to facilitate meetings with a certain NB?

3 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Very,very straight bat.

I said this very early on when Steven Smith and Paul Guerra were appointed as President and CEO respectively.

Very rarely do incoming leadership changes within professional sporting organisations continue on with the same onfield regime the following year.

They want their own man to put in place.

I've racked my brain as to why Alan Richardson has been retained in his position as GM of football when quiet frankly he has overseen most of the [censored] that has taken place in the last 3-4 year period with our culture.

Is it the reluctance of another soft cap pay out?

Is it the optics of futher upheaval in our footy dept.

Is it to retain him to pass on knowledge of each player to the incoming coach?

Or is it to pick his brain on a relationship with a contending candidate for the coaching job?

A candidate that SS and PG like and to facilitate meetings with a certain NB?

agree - but regardless, Richardson has to go. He and Tim Lamb are the final pieces of the messy puzzle

37 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Sign him up. He’s already an expert at not answering direct questions.

This may have been mentioned already - Buckley is a media darling so I anticipate the consistent heat we get from media may soften should he be appointed.

10 minutes ago, Pottsydee said:

This may have been mentioned already - Buckley is a media darling so I anticipate the consistent heat we get from media may soften should he be appointed.

Not sure I'm ready to sign up for the 13 year Ken Hinkley vic media softball treatment; close enough is good enough. Prelims be damned!

Edited September 1, 2025Sep 1 by John Demonic

1 hour ago, Ted Lasso said:

This is honestly getting a bit silly now! Can anyone actually see us passing on Nathan Buckley and signing James Kelly?

As long as he can stay awake while the boys sing the song post-match 🙄

1 hour ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

We need a coach to decide on who stays and more importantly who comes in as a result of who goes.

Not his call. Not in isolation in any case.

The only reason we haven't seen list cuts already is because Casey are still playing, otherwise a few would already have their "thank you for your services" notices.

2 hours ago, Pottsydee said:

This may have been mentioned already - Buckley is a media darling so I anticipate the consistent heat we get from media may soften should he be appointed.

And me thinking I was imagining all the hate ...had the prayer book, noose and typed letter ready...

6 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

As long as he can stay awake while the boys sing the song post-match 🙄

I'm not ready to let that go either. :)