Collingwood premiership defender Ben Johnson has called for a "fresh set of eyes", believing the football program could use with a changeup.
"I am always worried about the players, first and foremost. I love my footy club and I am always going to care about the club," Johnson told The Age.
"I think they deserve a fresh set of eyes and a new voice in the football program."
These comments come off the back of Collingwood's start to the 2021 season and controversial 2020 trade period.
Last year, Collingwood had a list overhaul with several key players leaving due to salary cap issues.
After the first 11 rounds, the 'new' Collingwood list has only managed to obtain two wins.
This start is disappointing for a club that had high hopes for the 2021 season. Less than a season ago, Collingwood upset West Coast Eagles at home to win the 2020 elimination final.
Johnson knows that the players aren't to blame, with more change needed. He states that a different voice in the football program is "a no-brainer".
Despite these concerns, Johnson calls for calm from supporters, shooting down the prospect of a general meeting.
In the previous weeks, a fan-led petition went viral when Collingwood fans starting voicing their opposition to the leadership instability plaguing the club since the departure of Eddie McGuire.
“[The EGM] is not needed. Obviously [with] Eddie leaving it’s going to leave a hole and there are going to be questions asked but these guys haven’t even had the chance to start before all this happened," he added.
When speaking to The Age, Johnson understood the importance of stability at the board level. He believes the club's current president Mark Korda has not had a sufficient opportunity to implement their ideas on the club.
Asked about the tension between Collingwood and their fans, Johnson had strong words about the situation, stating it was "embarrassing for the footy club".
Johnson questioned the motives behind the fan-led petition. He believes that a general meeting would be more destructive and harmful for the club.
“I think supporters are more concerned about seeing us winning games than board elections and stability is crucial if that is to occur," he said.
“If this coup that is being speculated succeeds I am not confident [any new group] will make the right decisions about the football department.”
Instead, Johnson believes the right people are already in the job.
Former teammate Paul Licuria is the current football director and leads the coaching decision.
Along with recent football manager Graham Wright and CEO Mark Anderson, a decision on Buckley's future needs to made by the end of the season.
“I have so much confidence in him [Licuria] to do the right thing and make the right call on the coach," Johnson said.
"I question how much those initiating a coup could do better than someone as experienced in football as Licuria."
It is still expected that Buckley receives a one-year extension before a decision on his long-term future is re-evaluated next year.
