Collingwood’s Darcy Cameron couldn’t think of a better way to send Nathan Buckley off.
The Magpies knocked off ladder leader Melbourne by 17 points at the SCG on Queen’s Birthday to put an exclamation mark on Buckley’s last game in charge of the club.
It was an emotional day for the black and white faithful, but the former club captain insisted he didn’t want it to centre around himself as he took in a business-as-usual approach, according to Cameron.
“‘Bucks’ kept it pretty routine to be honest,” he said on SEN’s Time On.
“He didn’t want it to be about him. I was waiting for someone to make it special and about him, but credit to him, he just focused like he has every week about getting the job done.
“Obviously we had people like Scott Pendlebury pull you aside and say how good would this be to go out and get this done for a person that’s served the club for such a long time.
“I’m so glad that we were able to do it.”
Cameron admits he did feel a little bit of pressure to get the job done after some of the things that had been said in the build-up.
The 25-year-old, who bagged four goals in the win, was also grateful for what Buckley has done for his fledgling career which included 10 games last season and nine this year after crossing from the Sydney Swans.
“You have blokes through the week saying, ‘you guys will get up for him’, and it’s easier said than done,” he added.
“To be able to go out there and execute it was just the best feeling.
“It was a special feeling after the game. He’s had a lot of influence on my game and he’s backed me in at the end of last year and especially more so this year, which I appreciate so much.
“This meant a lot.”
Asked if it was hard to stay focused amidst the media frenzy, Cameron says it’s part and parcel of being a Magpie, while touching on a somewhat melancholy feeling in the aftermath.
“I feel like Collingwood has had so much media this year that it was just another one we had to get over,” Cameron said.
“I feel like we’re almost trained to it.
“He keeps expressing that he would love to do what is best for the club and he feels like this is it, him moving on and getting a refreshing new look at the club.
“Credit to him, he’s executed that really well.
“It’s just a good way to send him off. We’re all stoked that we could leave on a good memory.”
The Pies will now enjoy a week off before starting life post-Buckley with Robert Harvey in charge against Fremantle in Round 15.