𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑: 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐅𝐋 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠 𝐌𝐜𝐑𝐚𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡/𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫…..𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞**

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑

In a moment that has sent shockwaves of joy through the Valley and across the wider AFL community, Collingwood Football Club has delivered news that has electrified the black-and-white faithful. Head coach Craig McRae has officially confirmed that former legendary captain and coach Nathan Buckley is returning to the club — not as a player or coach, but in a senior leadership and strategic role within the organization.

For Collingwood supporters, this announcement feels deeply symbolic. Nathan Buckley is more than a club great; he is one of the defining figures in the Magpies’ modern history. From his fierce competitiveness as a champion player to his years guiding the club from the coach’s box, Buckley’s legacy is etched permanently into Collingwood folklore.

Speaking on the decision, McRae highlighted the importance of experience, perspective, and cultural strength as the club continues to build on recent success.

“Nathan’s understanding of this football club, its standards, and what it takes to perform at the highest level is unmatched,” McRae said. “His presence will add enormous value behind the scenes.”

Buckley’s new senior role is expected to focus on leadership development, high-performance standards, and long-term football strategy. His insights will support players, coaches, and executives alike, helping to ensure Collingwood’s premiership ambitions are sustained rather than fleeting.

The reaction from fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media quickly filled with messages celebrating the return of a club icon, with many describing it as a “perfect fit,” “unfinished business,” and “the best news we could hope for.” For a club built on passion, expectation, and relentless drive, Buckley’s return feels like a powerful alignment of past greatness and future ambition.

As Collingwood looks ahead, the message is clear: the Magpies are not just chasing success — they are reinforcing their foundations. With Craig McRae leading on the field and Nathan Buckley strengthening the club at a senior level, belief has surged, standards have been reinforced, and the future once again feels unmistakably black and white.