Show must go on

Buckley downplays speculation

NATHAN Buckley understands if you do not believe him. But the Collingwood legend insists he has not given any thought as to whether tomorrow’s match against Melbourne will be his last as the club’s AFL coach.

Buckley is the only out-of-contract coach in the league and will not know his future until after this weekend’s game.

His position is tied up in muchpublicised football department and whole-of-club reviews at the AFL powerhouse.

Whether he stays or goes has been one of the biggest talking points in footy all season.

Speculation intensified when, last month, chief executive Gary Pert guaranteed Buckley’s position at the struggling club until season’s end. In the eye of the storm, a steadfast Buckley says he is calm and focused.

“You probably won’t believe me when I say I’ve spent the majority of the week on Melbourne and trying to set up a plan and a mentality that’s going to give us the best chance of performing and winning,” he said.

“We want to hit the line as hard as we possibly can.

“On the other side of that then you lift your eyes a little bit . . . next week is probably where there will be stronger conversations about what the future of the club looks like and where I fit.”

It means the final siren will sound tomorrow and Buckley will not know whether he has coached the Magpies for the last time.

But he knows that he wants to keep going.

Buckley killed off any speculation he could walk from the club if the review threw up anything to his distaste.

“I love the club and want to see it succeed. Whatever role I’m asked to play in that, I’ll play,” he said.

“Whether it means stepping back and stepping away or whether it means stepping up.

“The club is not about me and it won’t be about any other individual. It’s about what’s going to give it the opportunity for sustained success.

“I’m totally committed to the footy club and doing what has to be done.”

Against Melbourne, Buckley will resist the temptation to throw VFL sensation Kayle Kirby into the mix.

There will be changes — to structure and personnel.

He said the club was not being driven by the chance to knock Melbourne out of the finals.

“It’s for us. It’s always for us,” he said. “You can look at external motivations. I prefer to look at the positive opportunities and intrinsic motivations — why it’s important to you. That’s far more sustainable.”