AFL reporter Damian Barrett believes Nathan Buckley should consider standing down from coaching Collingwood in Sunday’s match against Fremantle.
The Magpies were fined $50,000 - $25,000 suspended - after Buckley and assistant coach Brenton Sanderson breached the AFL’s COVID-19 protocols.
Buckley and Sanderson played a tennis match with Australian Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik on Friday.
It came less than 24 hours after Collingwood president Eddie McGuire called for anyone that transgressed to be sent home and made to pay the sanctions out of their own pocket.
“I honestly believe he should consider standing down from coaching this team tonight against the Dockers in Perth,” Barrett told Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“He’s been quarantined away from the football club anyway while he’s dealing with a test that had to be taken because he played with someone outside the confines of his football club.
“You insert Nathan Buckley and Brenton Sanderson into what Eddie (McGuire) said and we’re clear now on what Eddie thinks should happen to such a situation.
“Nathan Buckley is a really good person and his apology was genuine, don’t get me wrong, but the messaging isn’t getting through – that’s the fifth club that’s done something in the past week which is putting in jeopardy the entire AFL season.
“I think sending the strongest message would come in the form of consideration at least to not coaching tonight.”
Ninth-placed Collingwood face 17th-placed Fremantle at Optus Stadium at 6:10pm AEST.
"I honestly believe he should consider standing down from coaching his team tonight."@barrettdamian believes Nathan Buckley should miss tonight's game against Fremantle.#9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/O4mVtCRhDR
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 2, 2020