Read about Nathan Buckley’s wife, children, age, height, family, parents, education, salary, income, coaching records, and tv shows.
Introduction
Former AFL coach, player, and commentator Nathan Buckley. Mike Sheahan lists him among the best 50 players ever. Buckley won the inaugural Rising Star Award in 1993, then became one of the game’s elite, captaining Collingwood between 1999 and 2007, winning the Norm Smith Medal for best player afield in the 2002 Grand Final despite playing in the losing team, the Brownlow Medal in 2003, and Collingwood’s Best and Fairest award, the Copeland Trophy, six times. He was also named to the Collingwood Team of the Century.
Buckley was selected to the All-Australian Team seven times and captained the Australian international rules football team against Ireland. Buckley was a 2004 Collingwood Hall of Fame inductee. After the 2007 AFL season, he became a Seven Network analyst. Buckley was Collingwood’s assistant coach in 2010 and 2011 (including the 2010 premiership team) and senior coach from 2012 until mid-2021, retaining a good career coaching record.
Name
Buckley
$5million
Occupation
50-year-old ex-rules player, coach, commentator
Height 1.86m
Nathan Buckley’s fortune
Nathan Charles Buckley was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on July 26, 1972. By age 12, Buckley had visited all major Australian states with his parents. His childhood team was Melbourne. He spent 10–17 years of his football growth in the Northern Territory and is sometimes called a Territorian. He played junior football at Nightcliff, representing the Northern Territory in 1983 and 1984, and senior football with Southern Districts in Darwin.
He played cricket for “PINTS” with Triple J’s Michael Tunn. Ainslie Football Club in Canberra’s ACTAFL. In State of Origin, he was of Northern Territory origin and picked for a Queensland/NT team and The Allies (a composite team representing several states including the Northern Territory).
Performing
Nathan Buckley’s football talent was early on. He joined SANFL club Port Adelaide and won his sole senior premiership, the Magarey Medal, the Jack Oatey Medal, and his club best and fairest in 1992. Brisbane Bears drafted him in the 1991 AFL Draft from Northern Territory.
Buckley stirred controversy by originally refusing to go to Brisbane. Due of Melbourne’s sport culture, he didn’t want to play for the Bears. Due to AFL draft regulations, he stayed in the SANFL.
Buckley played with the Bears in 1993 as part of an agreement that let him play for any team in 1994. Brisbane hoped he’d change his mind in Queensland. Buckley played 20 games, scored 21 goals, and impressed with his ability. He won the Norwich Rising Star Award and was second in best-and-fairest.
Nathan Buckley’s Bears deal became public during his rookie season. At the end of his contract, Collingwood, Geelong, and North Melbourne showed interest. Collingwood negotiated an all-party trade accord. Collingwood and Brisbane agreed to the transfer before other AFL teams and the league knew. Collingwood chose ten “untouchable” players, and the Bears may take any two outside this list and the Magpies’ first-round draft pick in return for Buckley. Collingwood traded Buckley for Craig Starcevich, Troy Lehmann, and a first-round pick (no. 12, future double-premiership player Chris Scott).
Nathan Buckley believed he had a better chance of winning a premiership with Collingwood. Brisbane won three premierships during Buckley’s career, while Collingwood won none. Brisbane beat Collingwood in two consecutive AFL Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003. Collingwood was eliminated by West Coast by two points in his debut season. Buckley would be a reliable performer for Collingwood. He won a Brownlow Medal in 2003 and placed third twice before 2000.
Buckley was Collingwood’s Best and Fairest six times in 10 years (one tied) and made the All-Australian Team from 1996 to 2002. In Round 2 of 1999, Buckley shattered his jaw. In Round 8, he returned to assist Collingwood win their first game of the season. Only the second time in their existence, Collingwood finished last (the other being in 1976). Buckley played in Collingwood’s penultimate game at Victoria Park against the Brisbane Lions.
In 1999, senior coach Tony Shaw made Buckley Collingwood captain, replacing the active Gavin Brown. Collingwood’s personnel changed significantly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Eddie McGuire was the club’s president in 1998 and coach in 2000. Buckley led Collingwood to 15th in 2000 and 9th in 2001. In Round 2, 2001, Buckley had 46 disposals, the most since quarters were cut to 20 minutes in 1994. Dane Swan eclipsed this mark in Round 10, 2009. (48 disposals).
Buckley led Collingwood to the 2002 AFL Grand Final. Buckley won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in one of the greatest individual grand final performances since 1989. His dominance against Brisbane’s midfield, especially captain Michael Voss, kept Collingwood close. Buckley shared the 2003 Brownlow Medal with Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide) and Adam Goodes (Sydney). The next Saturday, Buckley participated in his second losing grand final with Collingwood. Buckley had 24 ball disposals.
After his greatest season in 2003, the Magpie captain had forgettable 2004 and 2005. In the first three rounds, he was dominant, but hamstring injuries sidelined him for the next seven. When he returned, he played half-forward or half-back under duress. Buckley received life membership in 2004. Buckley was given AFL Life Membership after playing his 300th official match in 2006, including 267 premiership games, 24 preseason games, four state of origin games, and four international rules games.
Nathan Buckley was rested against West Coast in Round 7 and Carlton in Round 21. Buckley said James Clement might replace him as club captain at the end of the 2006 season. Clement later declined the captaincy. Eddie McGuire denied rumors of Buckley quitting. Buckley played his first VFL game of 2007 on August 18 for the Williamstown Seagulls. He had 29 possessions and four goals, earning best on ground.
Buckley returned to Collingwood the next week and played in the club’s two remaining home-and-away games and all three finals, including its 18-point semi-final win against West Coast in extra time and its five-point loss against Geelong in the preliminary final. Buckley retired on 5 October 2007.
Career-coaching
Nathan Buckley signed a 5-year deal with the Collingwood Football Club after months of speculation. In July 2009, club president Eddie McGuire created a succession plan in which senior coach Malthouse will give over the coaching reins to club legend Buckley at the end of the 2011 season. He was assistant coach under Mick Malthouse for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, including the club’s 2010 Premiership victory. He became senior coach in 2012, taking over from Mick Malthouse as part of a two-year succession plan, signing for three years.
Collingwood under Buckley started 2012 shakily, losing to Hawthorn in round 1 and Carlton in round 3. They won their next ten games and finished the home-and-away season 16–6. They lost the qualifying final against Hawthorn but won the semi-final against West Coast. In the 2012 Preliminary Final at ANZ Stadium, they fell handily to eventual champion Sydney.
The Magpies started 2013 5–4 under Buckley. They were inconsistent and ended sixth with a 14–8 record. Buckley questioned the club’s culture after a 24-point loss to Port Adelaide in the Elimination Final at the MCG.
Collingwood renewed Nathan Buckley’s contract until 2016 in March 2014, however the club lost to Fremantle by 70 points in round 1. Injury issues contributed to their 12th-place finish. Collingwood’s 2015 season was divided. After round 11 (with a bye in round 12), the Pies were 8-3, including a courageous win against Essendon on Anzac Day. Fourth place.
Post-bye Collingwood won two of its final 11 games and ended 12th with a 10-12 record. Buckley was criticized for a lopsided matchup and injuries. Buckley remade Collingwood’s roster during this time. Buckley’s relationship with GWS star Adam Treloar helped Collingwood get him in 2015.
Buckley’s contract was extended through 2017 in March 2016. Collingwood CEO Gary Pert said the short contract represented ‘the current situation of the industry’ The Magpies’ 2016 season began with an 80-point loss to Sydney and Dane Swan’s career-ending injury. Next week, Collingwood beat Richmond by 1 point. Senior player injuries and poor form contributed to another disappointing season. 9-13 was good for 12th place.
Nathan Buckley’s excellent finish encouraged him. Many thought Buckley would be fired, however Collingwood extended his contract and he took responsibility for the 2017 season. In early 2017, the Magpies lost four of their first five games and were 5-10. Again, Collingwood concluded the season strong with four victories and a draw. Their 9-12-1 record ranked 13th.
Collingwood gave Buckley a two-year contract extension on 28 August 2017 after a club review. In 2018, Buckley coached Collingwood to their first Grand Final since 2011. Collingwood fell to West Coast by 5 points. Buckley’s better performance with Collingwood led to a 2-year contract extension through 2021. In 2019, Collingwood finished fourth with a 15-7 record and beat Geelong in the opening week of the finals. The Pies lost the Preliminary Final by 4 points to the GWS Giants.
James hird wealth
Collingwood’s 2020 season was impacted by COVID-19. Buckley and assistant coach Brenton Sanderson broke COVID rules in Western Australia. Collingwood finished 8th with a 9-7-1 record. Geelong eliminated the Pies after they beat the Eagles by 1 point in week 1 of the finals. Buckley backed Collingwood after a turbulent 2020 transfer period that saw three senior players leave for meagre compensation.
After a terrible start to the 2021 AFL season, Buckley was criticized. The resignation of McGuire, one of Buckley’s staunchest allies, as club president earlier this year was seen as a threat to Buckley’s position. Buckley said he would stand down as senior coach after Round 13, 2021 against Melbourne. It was Collingwood’s fourth win of the season. Robert Harvey replaced Buckley as Collingwood’s caretaker senior coach for the 2021 season.
Books
Nathan Buckley has appeared on The Footy Show. Unwired’s ad campaign starred him. Buckley was a Seven Network and 3AW commentator in 2008-09. Nathan Buckley finished second in the 2008 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Buckley will host Fox Footy’s Best on Ground in 2022 and commentate matches.
Buckley also owns Group One winner Hurricane Jett, a pacer named after his oldest son and trained by Collingwood supporter Jayne Davies. On 24 September 2008, Penguin Group published Nathan Buckley’s autobiography, All I Can Be.
Wife
Nathan Buckley married Tania Minnici in 2002. Buckley and Tania announced their separation on 4 December 2020. Buckley and Minnici have two boys, Jett Charles and Ayce Dominic. Buckley is dating Alex Pike, who just split from her 19-year-old husband. His 1.86m height and good weight suit his disposition.
Nathan Buckley’s fortune
Nathan Buckley’s net worth Nathan Buckley is worth $5 million. Former rules player and media personality are his main sources of income. Nathan Buckley’s monthly salary and career earnings total nearly $350,000 yearly. He’s one of Australia’s wealthiest and most influential ex-footballers. Buckley’s job has earned him luxury lifestyles and vehicle travels. Buckley withdrew from the AFL “Laws of the Game” committee.