Eddie McGuire has thrown his support behind Nathan Buckley as the standout candidate to lead Tasmania into their inaugural AFL season, but only if Melbourne don’t come calling first.
Speaking on SEN Tassie’s The Devil’s Advocate, the ex-Collingwood president made it clear that his long-time colleague would be a natural choice for the Devils’ first senior coach.
“Bucks would be a great coach for the Devils,” McGuire said. “He might end up at Melbourne by the looks of things, but he would be ideal. If I had a vote on a coach, I’m not going to get into specifics, but somebody who is mature but also understands that it’s more than a game.”
MORE: Potential changes to AFL rules in 2026
A leader for more than just football
McGuire argued that the role in Tasmania demands more than tactical nous. He pointed to figures such as Kevin Sheedy at GWS and Mick Malthouse at West Coast as examples of leaders who built more than teams, they built communities.
“This is not just the game of football, it’s everything that AFL brings, and football brings,” he said. “Bucks would be ideal. He has been through it all, he’s got a desire to win a premiership, and he also understands young people, kids coming through.”
MORE: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera manager's fascinating insight behind St Kilda move
Tasmania have already made a statement by recruiting Derek Hine, Collingwood’s long-time list boss, as their head of recruitment. McGuire hailed Hine as a “ripper” and recalled the faith shown in drafting Scott Pendlebury at pick five in 2005, a risk that blossomed into Collingwood’s modern-day champion.
With Hine already laying the foundations, McGuire believes Tasmania need a steady hand like Buckley to shape an identity.