Collingwood great Nathan Buckley has been announced as an assistant coach at Geelong ahead of the 2026 season.
The 2003 Brownlow medallist played 280 games at the top level, and coached Collingwood to five finals campaigns in a decade as head coach.
Four years in football media followed his departure from the Pies, and a return to head coaching has been rumoured for some time, with Tasmania's inaugural post reportedly appealing to the decorated Buckley.
Buckley's appointment promises to fill the void left by Steven King, who, coincidentally, was appointed the Melbourne Demons coach ahead of Buckley in recent weeks.
Out of coaching since June 2021, an apprenticeship, of sorts, under master coach Chris Scott in order to refresh his skillset looms as a salient decision ahead of Tasmania's scheduled entry into AFL in 2028.
Geelong Cats Executive General Manager of Football Andrew Mackie said the Club is pleased to welcome Nathan to an experienced coaching group.
“We are excited to add Nathan to our Club and more specifically to our coaching group. He is respected and highly regarded across the football industry and brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective,” Mackie said.
“In speaking with Nathan, it was clear he had a strong appetite to return to coaching, and we look forward to welcoming him to our football program to work closely with our players and staff.”
In a peculiar development in the wake of Buckley's appointment, the Tasmania Devils released a statement congratulating Buckley on his appointment, seeing the move as a "very positive step" toward potentially coaching a club in the future.
"Tasmania Football Club acknowledges and congratulates Nathan Buckley on his appointment to Geelong Football Club," the statement read.
"It is great to see individuals of Nathan's calibre back coaching and if he wishes to coach at AFL level again we see this as a very positive step."
Buckley amassed 117 wins from 218 games as coach of Collingwood.
