As Nathan Buckley prepares to coach Collingwood for the very last time this Monday in the annual Queen's Birthday clash, we take a look back at an almost 30-year career, both on-field and in the box, that achieved almost everything besides that elusivve premiership.
There have been many greats who have not won the ultimate prize, but perhaps none greater or closer to than the departing Magpies coach.
Buckley played and coached in three grand final losses and three preliminary final losses. Had any of those resulted in Collingwood wins, Buckley would probably be considered one of the all-time great coaches.
Instead, he finishes up as a good, maybe great, coach. As a player, he has his achievements, but he'll always have the empty trophy cabinet sitting over him.
"I wouldn't change a thing," Buckley said on his time at Collingwood.
"...Bar a kick here and there."
Looking back, if we change some of those kicks, I might not be writing this article today.
Had Anthony Rocca's kick in the last quarter been a goal during the nine-point Grand Final loss to Brisbane in 2002, perhaps Buckley would have had a premiership medal alongside his Norm Smith that year.
In 2007, what would be Buckley's final playing year, a five-point prelim loss to eventual premiers Geelong may have been averted with a single kick. Buckley could have won a flag in his final AFL game, what a story that would have been.
And we all know what happened in the 2018 Grand Final. The Pies were two minutes away from what might have been their best premiership.
The year before, Buckley was almost certain to be out of a job, but the club kept their faith in him and he rose the Pies from 13th to the final day of the season the following year.
This was done on the back of Buckley changing his style and freeing himself up. He coached a more sympathetic style with his playing group, and it almost paid off. Bar one 'impossible goal' from Dom Sheed, the 2018 flag was Buckley's.
The following year, the Pies suffered more heartbreak, coming in the form of a four-point loss in a preliminary final against GWS.
Buckley's men were odds on favourites to make another decider, but perhaps severely botched it against an undermanned Giants. Had one of the missed kicks in the last quarter comeback been a goal, who knows what would have happened the following week against Richmond.
Nathan Buckley did all he could to give himself and the Magpies a premiership.
As a player, Buckley is perhaps one of the greatest the game has ever seen. He is definitely one of, if not, the best players to ever pull on the black and white.
Buckley was the AFL's first Rising Star winner in 1993, while at Brisbane.
He is a seven-time All-Australian from 1996 to 2003 (bar 2002), and a six-time Copeland Trophy winner.
He won a Norm Smith Medal in a losing grand final in 2002 and was a Brownlow medallist in 2003, another Grand Final losing year.
He served as captain of Collingwood from 1999-2007, and is a member of both the Magpies' and Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Nathan Buckley's move to coaching had its bitterness. Afraid that their 'favourite son' would coach elsewhere, Collingwood and then-president Eddie McGuire initiated a succession plan that would see Buckley take over from Mick Malthouse. A plan that disrupted a team that won the 2010 flag and made back-to-back grand finals.
After making another prelim in Bucks' first year coaching in 2012, the club fell to mediocrity until that one year in 2018, that will forever be Buckley's shining coaching moment.
Looking back at 2018 again, no matter what people felt about Collingwood, Buckley looked to have captured the hearts of the football world.
From lifting up and consoling the cheer squad after their banner was ripped apart in the wind, to after the loss, being his ever humble self and comforting his son, who was in tears.
There was a change in the man, who many believed was very controlling and liked things his way, dating back to his playing days.
Buckley was and always will be a Collingwood man, and it is probably for this reason he hasn't won the big one.
Collingwood have the record for most wins ever, but when it comes to the final day of the season, their record does not stand as well. The Pies have 15 premierships, while that is the second most behind Carlton and Essendon (16), it doesn't look as glorious when you see how many grand finals they have played.
44 grand finals for 15 wins, 2 draws and 27 losses (a record).
Looking back at those before Buckley, Bob Rose, who was a class player like Buckley, coached the Pies in three grand final losses, for a total margin of 15 points.
Len Thompson - five Copeland trophies and four grand finals for no wins.
Ray Shaw - five grand finals, including three as captain, no wins.
Collingwood were still the most successful team prior to 1958, but since then they have won two premierships, 1990 and 2010, and lost 12 grand finals.
Even Nathan Buckley couldn't turn the 60-plus year tide, he was a captive to the Collingwood story from the beginning.
He left Brisbane and turned down North Melbourne to play for the Pies. The Lions won three flags (two against Buckley's Magpies) and the Roos two since then.
Collingwood won a flag three years prior to his arrival and three years after his departure as a player.
Buckley was always so close to winning the coveted premiership, but he leaves the game again, marked by Collingwood and with his mark left on the competition.
He just missed it on numerous occasions, its almost the Collingwood way, but what he didn't miss was showing his worth.
Buckley was a phenomenal player and a very good coach. His footy IQ is lauded by many in the industry. It is certain he'll be getting phone calls for the foreseeable future about coaching elsewhere, so maybe he'll get his flag one day, but he won't get it for 'his' club, Collingwood.
