Brief

Nathan Buckley withdraws from North Melbourne senior coach race

Buckley, now a Geelong assistant and Fox Footy analyst, told the club late last week he would not pursue the vacant senior role at Arden Street.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:54:12 GMT

Nathan Buckley announced on October 4 that he has withdrawn from the race to become North Melbourne’s next senior coach, according to two industry sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

What happened

Buckley, 54, was expected to present to the club’s coaching panel on Saturday but informed the club late last week that he would remove himself from the process. The decision leaves the Kangaroos to continue searching for a replacement for Alastair Clarkson, who was sacked after four seasons with a 20‑win record from 81 games.

What the reports add

The SMH article notes that Buckley split his time between a Geelong assistant‑coaching role and work as a Fox Footy analyst. It also lists other candidates in the mix, including former player‑coach Daniel Giansiracusa, former Hawthorn assistant Jaymie Graham, former Richmond assistant David Hale and North assistant Xavier Clarke.

What was said

The source‑quoted article does not contain direct quotations from Buckley or North Melbourne officials, only the anonymous confirmation of his withdrawal.

How it came about

Buckley coached Collingwood from 2012 to 2021, leading the team to the 2018 Grand Final and stepping down after 218 games. Since leaving Collingwood he rebuilt his profile through media work and joined the Geelong coaching staff in 2026. North Melbourne’s search for a new coach follows the club’s decision to part ways with Clarkson, who cited a need for a modern‑game coach for the club’s young list.

Key facts

Nathan Buckley withdrew from the North Melbourne senior coaching race (smh.com.au)
Buckley is currently a Geelong assistant coach and Fox Footy analyst (smh.com.au)
Alastair Clarkson was sacked after four seasons with 20 wins from 81 games (smh.com.au)