Buckley's weekly interview with Gerard Whateley in 2019

[AN_Inkling]

Interesting to hear re Jordan. There was a lot of criticism of Darcy for coming off for "tightness". In retrospect that may have saved his and our season. Certainly would have preferred De Goey to do the same instead of trying to play through and injuring himself properly.

[E]

[PyreneesPie]

From our experiences this year, it seems that it doesn't matter whether it's a tear, a strain, or even tightness - the player is out for weeks with rehabilitation and there is only a little over 2 weeks left in this season.

[RudeBoy]

Enter Dr Mengele!

[MagpiesTheGreat]

The club is giving the impression to the oppositions that JDG won't play this year...
Don't be surprised if he runs out to the G on the GF day

[K]

[Woods]

Buckley prefaces this morning’s interview by saying that he must be careful what he says about the Toby Greene verdict and proposed appeal. Says the “money shot” (ie. video evidence) was the difference between this week and last week. Pies were planning for Greene to play. Threat of the appeal has no immediate impact on players as they are “focusing on us” at the moment not the opposition.

Reflections on the 2003 Anthony Rocca decision.

Buckley’s recent visit to the GABBA - a “cauldron” - to see Lions and GWS play.

Lessons from past Prelims past. Buckley disputes popular conception that preliminary finals are the hardest to win. “Aren’t they all hard to win?”. Says that you find out in finals the teams that are built of something substantial. “Talent is great but it won’t win you finals” - good teams win finals. Need to stop and smell the roses through the finals campaign.

Buckley reviews qualities of GWS game style. Last time Pies played GWS, “was over by quarter time”.

Whateley asks “How’s the Hail Mary going?” [ie. De Goey]. Buckley: “Still quite a bit for Jordy to do”. Biggest challenge is his “mental condition”, but he “has a glint in his eye”. Not pestering for selection, yet.

Contentment and resentment in the AFL. Buckley talks on ways to survive in the AFL bubble and to stay in love with the game.

(Breaking news while interview in progress that GWS player Lachie Whitfield is in hospital with appendicitis. Little reaction from Buckley: “A bad week for that to happen”.)

Daniel Wells retirement from footy. Buckley: Wells told me recently that “it’s gone past me”. He has been a profound influence on the team, “but it won’t be seen” by outsiders. “Has left a legacy” at Collingwood.

Sam Murray’s exit - Buckley: Difficult to talk about. Has been “bubbling a way for a long time”. Can’t confirm decision that he is leaving.

Essendon’s newly announced succession plan. Buckley: Only can work if “outgoing coach in willing and capable of being selfless…”. Talks about learning the coaching game.

Audio podcast: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode/427628
(Whateley’s opening monologue is a breath of fresh air regarding the Toby Greene issue. Lays bare the predetermined media agenda leading up to the tribunal decision, and the weightlessness of Neale’s testimony. Worth a listen.)

[K]

[David]

Thanks again Woods! Plenty of fascinating material there.

[Woods]

There was also talk in today's interview that revolved around something Buckley did at training. But without seeing the video the specifics were lost.

SEN have now put up a video of the interview segment with a video inset of the training session.

Quite funny about old man Bucks. Especially the closing comment: "You can't do that and not try".

https://1116sen.jwpapp.com/m/szd5xfGg/buckley-turns-back-the-clock-at-training-whateley?list=utmesa8n

[PyreneesPie]

[Woods]

Whateley interviewed Buckley by phone this morning, and for the last time this year:

Life since loss in the Prelim? Buckley: “Head's been in a trough” last few days with many individual player interviews covering their body of work for the year. Has taken “a lot of emotional energy”.

Has Buckley watched the Prelim replay? Buckley: Tail end only. Needed to explain the “what ifs”. A light analysis of how Pies played and lost. Opposition were a “a little harder” than us. Last quarter were able to work back GWS lead. “Keenly felt not having a runner” for first time this year, but “the boys had a plan”. GWS more willing to compete at their best. Game was lost in 3rd quarter. Pies were “a little bit off in the hunting of the football”. Came up against a side that displayed real steel. Result is profound.

Is a Prelim loss worse than GF loss? “Yes. I think it is. The opportunity you’re missing out on is front and centre.” Says he enjoys the prep as much as the game. So he misses out on the prep for the GF. Talks of sorrow and disappointment.

Will Buckley watch the GF: “I will avoid the Grand Final”. Adam Simpson has asked Buckley: “Are you out of the cave yet?” “I don’t intend to rub my own nose in it.”

The notion of Buckley’s self-declared “wasted year”. Buckley: “Definitely a huge waste”. We’d done enough to earn a GF spot. “Our season stacked up”. “It was a wasted opportunity, a wasted year”. We were in better shape than last year.

Brief talk of assistant coach Justin Longmuir’s chance to coach at Fremantle. Buckley wishes him well.

Will Jamie Elliot be leaving? Buckley says it won’t be a battle to keep him at the Pies. He likes being where he is. But has to consider his financial needs.

Buckley warns that there is about to be a fire drill at his end. Interview rapidly concludes with Buckley saying that the issues surrounding the retention of Grundy are similar to Elliot’s. Buckley’s final words were said laughingly, “This place is on fire”.

Audio podcast: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode/431585

That’s a wrap for the year.
Floreat pica.

[David]

Thanks Woods! And thanks for all of your excellent work this year providing these links and summaries.

[MagpiesTheGreat]

Thanks. This is one of few threads here that I am really interested in.

[PyreneesPie]

^ +1. Many thanks Woods.