Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley expects new Magpies CEO Craig Kelly to be a big success in the role.
Kelly, a former teammate of Buckley’s, accepted the role earlier this week after it was long rumoured that he’d assume the position.
Having made a name for himself post his playing career as the long-time boss of talent agency TLA – which manage more than 300 AFL players and a raft of coaches – Buckley described the appointment as “inspired”.
Buckley also revealed that he tried multiple times, unsuccessfully, to convince Kelly to step into the role during his time as coach between 2012 and 2021.
“I think it’s inspired,” Buckley told SEN Breakfast.
“Really, it was probably a role that was going to be there for Ned for whenever or if he decided to do it.
“I spoke to him a couple of times whilst I was there about trying to get him across, but he didn’t have any fingers left to put in another pie.
“I think talking to him over the last 48 hours, he’s excited by it, he’s done very well in business, and he’s done very well in the AFL space in marketing and in media.”
Considering the power Kelly wielded as boss of TLA, Buckley thinks he’ll be amazing for Collingwood given his knowledge and connections within the AFL industry.
Buckley believes Kelly has taken the role due to the passion he has for the club as he has links both as a player and a professional to the Magpies.
“This is a very different role for him, it’s probably a step back in some ways, I think this is a choice made out of passion more than anything – passion for the football club, passion for the place where he started and where he cut his teeth,” Buckley said.
“Ned promotions started as a 2x3 room behind the Daicos Bar behind the Bob Rose Stand, that’s where he started talking calls from people who wanted players to turn up for promo gigs.
“He took the best ones and then sort of rang his teammates if they wanted to do the other ones (laughs).
“He’s done really one and he’s gone back to where it’s started.
“I think he’ll be amazing for the club and his connections throughout the AFL industry will be a big part of that.”
The 1990 premiership player will officially start his new role as CEO on February 20.