Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has categorically ruled out a return to coaching, be that now or in the future.
The 49-year-old had already put a line through a coaching comeback this year, speaking in favour of his new role in the media with both SEN and Fox Footy.
After images of Buckley meeting with North Melbourne chief executive Ben Armafio arose over the weekend, the Brownlow medallist was once again quizzed on potentially stepping back into the coaching landscape.
“He did ask me if I wanted to coach next year, I said absolutely not, I’m not interested in coaching at all," Buckley said of his conversation with Amarfio on Best on Ground.
“That was a very short part of our conversation on the walk and then we got onto business about how we were both going in our lives.”
With the Roos job now available following David Noble's departure, the timing of the casual catch-up with Amarfio raised a few eyebrows.
North Melbourne's search for a new senior coach comes amid a tumultuous campaign for the Ardeen Street club, who are anchored to the 18th rung on the ladder after 18 rounds.
But while the Roos' struggles may turn some candidates away from the vacancy, Buckley told SEN his extinguished desire to return to coaching wasn't a matter of what club was available, but instead an overall lack of temptation to return to the hot seat.
“No, it’s got nothing to do with the club,” he said.
“I can’t see myself coaching in the future.”
When asked if his stance was for the short-term or forever, Buckley noted it'd be the latter.
“No, I can’t see it,” Buckley added.
“I’m talking in the role. There’s no burning ambition for me to get back into a football club.
“You try and assess it, how much you’re carrying. There's always a little bit of resentment around the pressure that is brought to bear.
“This is why I go into bat a little bit about ‘us’ as the media and the impact that we have on decisions or pressure and even performance.
“There’s no doubt that there is a weight and another hurdle that is created by the pressure that’s brought to bear from us in the media.
“I don’t enjoy that part of it.
“I enjoy helping young men be better versions of themselves. The winning and losing part, I love winning but I’m probably not as ruthless around winning and losing. It’s more about the development of individuals and the development of a group of people that I really enjoyed in the last four or five years.
“I’m definitely not in the space (to return).”
Buckley coached Collingwood across 10 seasons, amassing 117 wins from 218 matches for a win rate of 54.13 per cent before leaving his role midway through last year.
