'There's a chance': Buckley interested in Devils coaching role, confirms meetings with Tassie chief
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For the first time since departing Collingwood, Nathan Buckley has registered interest in a return to coaching, admitting he would be open to conversations regarding the Tasmania role.
Devils CEO Brendon Gale confirmed recently that he spoke with Buckley to gauge his interest amongst other early candidates a few months ago.
The club's inaugural list boss Derek Hine, who worked with him at Collingwood, recently said he'd "love to work with Bucks again", adding that he would be "good for Tassie".
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Buckley has been asked many times about potential coach vacancies, including recently with both the West Coast job and the upcoming Port Adelaide role, but has always reaffirmed his enjoyment of his media role and knocked back interest.
Could Nathan Buckley be the first coach of Tassie? Getty
When asked about whether he would pursue the Tassie job on Monday morning however, he said "there's a chance".
"This has come back around with Brendon's comments. We met a couple of times last year," he said.
"The initial (meeting) was from him and then the second one was from me to understand the challenge that the Devils faced and how they are going to build that club. To put my two cents in, I suppose, and then to learn as much as I possibly could about it.
"There's a couple of really good football people I believe would go really well down there. I put their names forward and put them in front of Brendon.
"They've been exceptional with the slow build that they've done. I think they've got the order right with list management and recruiting first. The academies will come and then whatever you get from the drafts and trade conditions.
"Then put your coaching group in place later."
Buckley during his stint as Collingwood coach Getty
Whether he's still up for the slog that is being an AFL head coach, Buckley admitted he was still "asking (himself) that question".
"That coaching bug is still there, but I'm really enjoying what I'm doing at the moment," he said.
"An existing club versus the Devils, they're two very different propositions. So to understand more about the Devils is to understand whether you think it fits and whether you're energised by it.
"That challenge is so different to what I've experienced. It's fundamental, it's what footy is all about is helping young men find their way through the early stages of their career. Picking senior players to come in and off-field staff that have experience and are passionate and want to grow something from the ground up.
"It's a very different challenge and one that I'm still exploring."
Buckley is among eight frontrunners for the role, outlined by the WWOS team last week.
