Nathan Buckley’s decision to step down as Collingwood coach has brought with it some peculiarities.
Looking away from Buckley’s astonishing career as a player and solid yet ultimately unsuccessful stint as a coach, there are some fascinating similarities between now and 1982.
During that season some 39 years ago, the Magpies parted ways with Tom Hafey after Round 10.
Hafey’s final game in charge was against Melbourne with the black and white going down by seven points at the MCG. Buckley’s final game just so happens to be against the Demons, although it will take place at the SCG.
Just to add to that, Peter Daicos played for the Pies that day and his son Josh will be in action against the Dees on Monday.
Looking at what occurred prior to the Hafey exit, it is apparent that the Pies had qualified for finals five years on the trot. In 1979, just two and a half seasons prior, the Maggies were beaten in the Grand Final (by Carlton) by five points with both sides scoring 11 goals.
Buckley’s Pies made the finals three years in a row and some two and a half seasons prior to his departure, they were beaten in the Grand Final (by West Coast) by five points with both sides scoring 11 goals.
Both Grand Finals were on September 29 and both sides had ended the home and away season in third position.
In 1981, the season immediately prior to the exit, Hafey’s Pies enjoyed a one-point finals win (over Fitzroy). Last year, Buckley’s side also got home by a solitary point in a final (over West Coast).
In the same series, the ‘81 Pies (prior to playing off in the Grand Final) were beaten by Geelong. In the 2020 series, the Pies were also knocked off by the Cats.
More tenuously, the ‘82 Pies had a horror start and were 1-9 (including a Round 2 win) and the ‘21 Pies have endured a horror start of their own at 3-9 (including a Round 2 win).
Stephen Rodgers, who supplied the stats, feels it is a bit of history repeating itself.
“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” he said.
Can the Pies beat the Dees to see Bucks out on a winning high or will history repeat itself again?