Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says having a new contract in tow doesn't mean he feels any less determined in leading the club back to September action.
Speculation mounted regarding six-time Copeland Trophy winner’s future at the club, after a fourth straight year outside the finals, but Buckley was given a two-year extension, following an extensive review of the football club.
“I can honestly say it’s not front of mind at all,” he said on Whateley.
“I don’t feel any less determined to get the job done.”
Garry Hocking, Justin Longmuir and recently retired Western Bulldogs premiership star Matthew Boyd have joined the Pies coaching panel in 2018, and Buckley says there is greater confidence and clearer understanding amongst the players and coaches on what needs to be done to reach their goals.
“I believe that the group we’ve been able to put together of coaches, and they’ve gelled together really well,” he said.
“I’m really confident and there’s a great element of trust that I have in our coaching group to be able to deliver what we need to deliver.
“That has [also] developed over the years with the playing group, particularly the senior leadership group, and clearly deeper than that with some of the key players in our side that have a clear understanding of their impact and where we want to go.
“That gives you more confidence and more belief in what you’re doing and the test will come for us.”
Small forwards Jamie Elliott and Alex Fasolo have missed large chunks of pre-season after undergoing surgery, but in good news for Collingwood fans Buckley confirmed both are ahead of schedule in their recovery, and the club is comfortable about the workload the players have undergone.
“We’ve trained really well. We’re comfortable with the amount of work we’ve been able to get into our players,” he said.
“We think we’re in good shape to attack the next 6-8 weeks and round off our preparation.”
To listen to Nathan Buckley's chat with Gerard Whateley listen in the player below!