Nathan Buckley has admitted that he was left ‘humbled, flattered, embarrassed and grateful’ after memorabilia from his playing days was put on display at Collingwood’s Museum.
On Tuesday, Collingwood honoured their club legend, by opening the Nathan Buckley Magpie Legend Exhibition at the AIA Vitality Centre.
The collection includes some of 53-year-old’s most prized accolades and pieces of memorabilia from his distinguished playing career, including his 2003 Brownlow Medal and 2002 Grand Final jersey.
‘To try and put three and a half decades of commitment into a space like this, for the club to do this is amazing,’ Buckley said.
The seven-time All-Australian is one of the Magpies’ greatest players and most revered coaches, with the former midfielder having returned 263 goals in 260 matches between 1994 and 2007.
Buckley would later take up a coaching role with the club, overseeing 218 AFL games, winning 117 of those matches.
‘To be a part of this is tremendously humbling. Where would you want your collection, the Copelands and the All-Australians, where would you want it to be in 100 years’ time? This is where it started, where it was earned and where it was always going to come back to.
‘I’m tremendously grateful for the club and (historian) Michael Roberts has done a fantastic job.
‘Humbled, flattered, embarrassed, grateful and really thankful for the club letting me come and see it with my family.’
Earlier this year, Buckley had been forced to buy back some of his most prized possessions at an auction, some of which included premiership medals and jumpers.
It came after he had to part company with his memorabilia as part of his divorce settlement to his ex-wife Tania. The pair had separated in 2020 after 18 years of marriage.
His possessions had fetched nearly $200,000 at auction, with the former midfielder subsequently buying back his 2003 Brownlow Medal and Norm Smith Medal.
Collingwood had also bought some of the items at the auction, which included match-worn shirts, shorts and socks and a pair of his boots. It is understood that his match-worn jersey from the 2002 premiership final – in which Buckley won the Norm Smith medal – fetched $16,000.
‘It’s a blessing in disguise really the way that it all panned out. It probably would have been collecting dust if it hadn’t been for push coming to shove,’ Buckley said.
‘It’s where everything should be and needed to settle.
‘The club have done an amazing job and they bought a few items at auction and it’s a pretty complete collection.
‘In the end, it’s the club’s to do what they wish and I just think in the end these things were collected and earned mostly through wearing the Collingwood guernsey.’
Magpies president Jeff Browne opened the exhibition, stating: ‘We are so pleased to unveil an exhibition of one of our Club greats and we welcome Nathan and his family back to our Club,’ Collingwood President Jeff Browne said.
‘Nathan has left a historic mark on our Club as both a player and coach, and this exhibition allows us all to reflect and celebrate his contribution, that will be remembered for many lifetimes to follow.
‘With over 100 items on display, our Members and supporters and the whole AFL community is able to enjoy one of the largest AFL player collections at our Club’s Museum.
‘We sincerely thank Nathan for his generous donation to our Club and look forward to welcoming everyone to the exhibition over the coming year.’
More to follow…
