Former Collingwood champion is BUCKLEY’S chance of coaching under siege North Melbourne

Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley has been spotted taking a leisurely stroll with under siege Kangaroos CEO Ben Amarfio – but the former coach is no chance of swooping on the AFL vacancy according to the North Melbourne top dog. 

A tweeted photo of the two on Friday morning appeared on social media, igniting a flame that was once firmly denied by Buckley.

The Kangaroos have had a miserable season, sitting dead last with four competition points – only managing one win from 16 games. 

After just 36 games at the helm of North Melbourne, coach David Noble was shown the door this week, the third coach booted out of the club in as many years.

Chief Executive Amarfio said his relationship with Buckley is purely friendly, and will not result in a gig at the Roos.

‘Nathan has zero interest in coaching. I knew that before our walk [on Friday],’ the ex-cricket executive told News Corp. 

Kangaroos CEO Ben Amarfio speaks to the media following his club signing in December 2019

Buckley and Amarfio are believed to be mates and have grown closer since the CEO’s was  installed at North Melbourne in 2019. 

Buckley, 49, quit his head coaching role at the Magpies in 2021 after nearly a decade at the club, with a record of 112 wins, 92 losses and two draws. 

The AFL legend now works as a media personality on the Fox Footy show ‘Best on Ground’, along with SEN radio. 

‘Nup. I won’t be coaching next year. I’m enjoying [being] on this couch too much,’ Buckley said back in May. 

‘Right now, having had the time out of the game and enjoyed the space that I’ve been in with Fox and SEN without the stress and pressure of coaching, I’ve actually really enjoyed myself and the situations I’ve found myself in.’

The former 260-game Pie who played for the club between 1994-2007 has been linked to a GWS coaching role, which could see him move to the growing Sydney side in 2024. 

Nathan Buckley speaks to Scott Pendlebury during a clash against the Adelaide Power in 2021, the year he resigned after nearly a decade as head coach

North Melbourne are entertaining a marquee list of candidates for the vacant role, with the former Hawks four-time premiership winning coach Alastair Clarkson to be tipped at the top of the clipboard. 

Noble was immediately ousted after the Kangaroos failed to capitalise on a 26-point lead against Collingwood last week, with the loss increasing their season points against to 1731. 

Another contender is Ross Lyon, who dual-premiership Kangaroo David King believes should be the number one priority.

Lyon coached 305 games between St Kilda and Fremantle and appeared in eight finals series all within 13 years around the coaching system.

Ross Lyon (left) looks on ahead of his St Kilda side at training back in 2010, before their grand final appearance against Collingwood

Lyon walked away from a North Melbourne offer at the end of 2020 and declined a role at Carlton last year, saying he’s enjoying his time out of club responsibilities. 

Earlier in the week, Hawks great Jordan Lewis labelled the club a ‘weak organisation’ and said the club must stick by their coach for a time beyond 30 games.