Nathan Buckley withdraws from race to become North Melbourne senior coach

Nathan Buckley has withdrawn from the race to become North Melbourne’s next senior coach, delivering a major twist in the Kangaroos’ search for Alastair Clarkson’s replacement.

Two industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed to this masthead that Buckley had informed those involved in the process that he will not pursue the vacant position, ruling himself out of a return to senior coaching at Arden Street.

Buckley was due to formally present to the coaching panel on Saturday, but told the club late last week that he would be removing himself from the process.

It means Clarkson’s successor is set to be a first-time coach, with Daniel Giansiracusa, Jaymie Graham, David Hale and North assistant Xavier Clarke all in the mix.

Buckley had loomed as one of the most compelling candidates available to North as the club searches for the coach to lead its next era.

His decision leaves the Kangaroos without one of the biggest names in the market and will force them to narrow their focus elsewhere as they continue the process of appointing Clarkson’s successor.

Buckley, 54, coached Collingwood for almost a decade, taking the club to the 2018 grand final and within a kick of a premiership, before stepping away in 2021 after 218 games in charge.

He has since rebuilt his football profile through the media and repeatedly resisted opportunities to get back into the coaches’ box before joining the Cats as an assistant coach in 2026.

The Kangaroos are searching for another coach after parting ways with Clarkson following four seasons in which the four-time premiership coach managed just 20 wins from 81 games.

President Sonja Hood raised eyebrows in the media conference announcing Clarkson’s sacking by stating North needed a coach for the modern game.

North believed their young list had reached a point where it required a different voice and a coach suited to taking the group through the next phase of its development.

Having already made the enormous call to move on from Clarkson, and having accumulated elite young talent through the draft, the Kangaroos are under pressure to get their next appointment right.

The Kangaroos are expected to push ahead with their process as they attempt to identify the coach capable of finally dragging the club out of its prolonged rebuild and last week appointed three-time premiership Tiger Kane Lambert to be head of development.

Buckley, meanwhile, will remain one of the most fascinating figures outside the AFL coaching ranks — and his decision to walk away from the North Melbourne opportunity after missing out on the top job with incoming side Tasmania suggests he is prepared to wait for the right job before returning as a senior coach.

He will continue as Chris Scott’s assistant at Geelong into 2027.

North Melbourne and Buckley were contacted for comment.

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