Medical Staff Force Eager Buckley To Delay Comeback For One More Week

The Age

Friday August 10, 2007

Martin Boulton

COLLINGWOOD fans held their breath every time skipper Nathan Buckley looked like breaking into a sprint or dashing at a loose ball during training yesterday.

Less than a month after the veteran re-tore his right hamstring, all the signs pointed to him pulling on the boots this weekend, maybe with the Magpies but more likely with Williamstown in the VFL.

Even Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, mobile phone pressed tightly to his ear, had an extra spring in his step as he leapt from a car in Punt Road and hurried across Gosch's Paddock.

Buckley did all he could to impress coaching staff, but when the session wound up, he was still another week away from playing, according to assistant coach Guy McKenna.

"He's progressed nicely, exactly where we want him to be," McKenna said. "He's done some more work this week and probably next week he'll pull the boots on, which will be very exciting for him and the club."

Buckley, yet to play this year because of recurring hamstring problems, could hardly wait to get on the ground and pushed through a solid hour-long session.

"Whether's he's right to go now, he in his own mind might think he is . . . but from a fitness and conditioning point of view, given his history, we're certainly going to err on the side of caution and give him another week," McKenna said yesterday.

"We just want to be safe that when he comes back next time . . . he's got every chance of getting through and performing at the level he's expected to."

Having watched AFL veterans Anthony Koutoufides and Luke Darcy announce their retirements in the past fortnight, Buckley is clinging to the hope that his own career is not over. "He feels good and that's a great indicator; he's felt good for two or three weeks," McKenna said.

The club's medical staff were given the final say over whether the 35-year-old returned this week and felt he needed a further week of conditioning and training.

Having missing 18 rounds and watched nine players make their debuts for the club this year, McKenna said that Buckley had stayed focused and done all he could to play again in the run home to the finals.

"The good thing about 'Bucks' is you know he's put all the work into it (and) he's going to give himself the best possible chance to get through," he said.

"He'll play next week - whether that's seniors - we'll make that decision next week."

© 2007 The Age

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