Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has dismissed the speculation surrounding a photo of him and North Melbourne CEO Ben Amarfio, admitting that he has no desire to return to a coaching role in 2023.
The Kangaroos are on the hunt for a new senior coach following the departure of David Noble, with a number of high profile names being linked to the job. Interim coach Leigh Adams is currently at the helm, coaching North to their first win since Round 2 on Saturday evening.
Since departing the Magpies in 2021, Buckley has become a prominent media figure, regularly appearing on Fox Footy. Despite being linked to the available North job, Buckley categorically ruled himself out of the race while speaking on Fox Footy's Best on Ground program, giving context to the meeting between him and Amarfio.
โHeโs been going through the ringer, heโs been copping it a little bit so Iโve been checking in with him to see how heโs going. Weโre great mates,โ Buckley said.
โHe did ask me if I wanted to coach next year, I said absolutely not, Iโm not interested in coaching at all.
โThat 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.โ
Despite a run of poor on-field results, in which North found themselves under constant speculation around the fate of their senior coach, Noble's departure after just 38 games raised eyebrows, with Buckley defending Amarfio's handling of the situation.
โItโs tough for him. All of this talk about youโve got to let this coach go, heโs failed here, then you make the call and the club starts getting criticised about being weak for letting a bloke go because heโs only coached 38 games,โ Buckley said.
โMake your mind up. I think we as a media need to have some responsibility and accountability for how we view this.
โYou canโt just push for one decision, then that decision happens and then criticise it. I think itโs a tough position to be in, but that is what you take on when youโre in a senior role ... when youโre not winning, itโs tough.โ
While Buckley has ruled himself out of the job, other prominent names remain in contention, with The Age reporting that club president Dr Sonja Hood has approached Alastair Clarkson's management as they continue searching for their fourth senior coach in as many years.
