Nathan Buckley returns to AFL coaching ranks with Geelong Cats, as Tasmania Devils job looms on horizon
Buckley has the option of spending a year with the Cats before turning his attention to the Devils if he is appointed to the top job.
The Devils went so far as to release a statement on Tuesday congratulating Buckley on his appointment at Geelong, calling it a “positive step” in his potential return to a senior coaching role in the future.
“Tasmanian Football Club acknowledges and congratulates Nathan Buckley on his appointment to Geelong Football Club,” the statement said. The statement was included.
“It’s great to see individuals of Nathan’s caliber coaching backs and we see this as a very positive step if he wants to coach at AFL level again.”
Buckley met with Devils general manager Brendon Gale and publicly expressed his interest in joining the club.
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Buckley was also interviewed for the vacant Melbourne coaching post last month but was overlooked when the Demons selected Cats assistant Steven King. He later said he found the potential to be the Devils’ first coach more appealing.
“I just know from my perspective. And ultimately I had to take the risk of sacrificing the opportunity to coach Melbourne, keeping the opportunity to coach Tasmania because the timescales didn’t match up,” Buckley told Fox Footy.
“Melbourne, quite rightly, decided on a coach who was all-in and wanted to do the job, and that was Steven King. So, largely they made the right decision. I was more interested in the Tasmanian job than the Melbourne job.”
The Cats recently extended Scott’s tenure until the end of 2029. Scott has also been linked to the Devils job.
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