Nathan Buckley has broken his silence after missing out on one of the biggest coaching appointments in AFL history. While disappointed to be overlooked, the former Collingwood coach has already made it clear where his focus now lies.
Speaking on fox footys on the couch, Buckley admitted he was “really keen” to become the inaugural coach of the Tasmania Devils before the role was ultimately awarded to former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. News.com.au first reported Buckley’s candid reaction following the official announcement.
Buckley didn’t hide his disappointment.
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After receiving a missed call and text message from Devils CEO Brendon Gale confirming he had missed out on the role, Buckley joked that he “went home, kicked the dog, threw the toys out of the cot” before quickly turning his attention back to work at Geelong.
He then clarified the comment was made in jest, explaining the setback hurt because he had invested heavily in pursuing the position.
“I think it’s taken me a little bit of time to reflect because I was really keen on it,” Buckley said on On the Couch.
The 53-year-old returned to coaching this season as an assistant under Chris Scott at Geelong, stepping away from much of his media work to rebuild his coaching credentials ahead of opportunities like the Tasmania role.
Despite missing out, Buckley was gracious in defeat.
He acknowledged Tasmania had every right to choose the candidate they believed best suited to build the club from the ground up and said he had no issue with the process, even though he hadn’t been given detailed feedback on why he wasn’t selected.
For now, Buckley says his complete focus remains on helping Geelong’s premiership push.
He also played down speculation linking him to other potential senior coaching vacancies, including Essendon and Carlton, insisting he’ll reassess his future once the 2026 season comes to an end.
Meanwhile, Hinkley has officially begun preparing for Tasmania’s AFL entry in 2028 after signing a long-term deal to become the Devils’ inaugural coach. His immediate priorities include building the football department, recruiting talent and establishing the culture of the league’s newest club.
While Buckley missed out on the historic appointment, his comments suggest his desire to return as a senior AFL coach remains as strong as ever.
