NICE win and all by Collingwood, but what does it really mean in the wash-up?
The Magpies outhunted Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, but given the stakes on offer, the result said much more about the dreadful Demons than it did the Pies, who looked good in a game that counted for nought.
We know the Pies have been playing for their coach, and who can blame them? He's one of the better people in footy. If the good bloke factor comes into play, Buckley would be Collingwood coach for life.
In many cases, he's brought these players across to Collingwood on better money than what they were on before, and has them coming daily to a facility much more opulent than the digs they left behind.
So, it stands to reason that they're going to swear their undying loyalty to Buckley.
The intellectual case for retaining Buckley isn't anywhere near as strong. He took over a beaten Grand Finalist at the start of 2012 and since then the Pies have finished fourth, eighth, 11th, 12th, 12th and now 13th. They won nine-and-a-half games this year, half a game better than last year, but before then they had won fewer games each year under Buckley.
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At any other club in any other elite sport, there would be no discussion. Buckley would be long gone. But the succession plan that elevated him to the coaching position was conceived and executed by president Eddie McGuire and it would take a rare admission of failure by him if he chooses not to renew Buckley's contract.
Which is why we won't be waiting too long – as early as Monday you would think – for the first order of business for Collingwood's off-season to be addressed, and that is, the status of the coach. If we were having a bet, Buckley won't be clearing out his desk any time soon.
Here is the first item of business for the nine other clubs who won't play finals in 2017.
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9. Melbourne
How can the team that goes on the road and flogs Adelaide and beat West Coast turn up its toes twice against North Melbourne and then barely lay a tackle in the opening quarter against Collingwood on Saturday with it all to play for? That's the first question Simon Goodwin will address this off-season and there would seem to be no obvious answer.
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10. St Kilda
Press the re-set button on Paddy McCartin. Here's a stat that won't delight St Kilda people. Since the introduction of the national draft in 1986, only four number one picks have played fewer games in their first three seasons than McCartin.
Richard Lounder (Richmond) - four games 1988-90
Alex McDonald (Hawthorn) - seven games 1989-91
Martin Leslie (Brisbane Bears) - 11 games 1987-89
Stephen Hooper (Geelong) - 21 games 1991-1993
It is too early for the Saints to give up on McCartin, but after just 22 games in three seasons, he has badly under-performed for a No.1 pick. Is it the regular concussions? Does his diabetic condition prevent him from developing a big enough tank? Nick Riewoldt's retirement opens a place in the forward line in 2018 but the Saints need to quickly determine whether McCartin is the player to fill it.
The Saints need to know if Paddy McCartin is the man to replace Nick Riewoldt. Picture: AFL Photos
11. Western Bulldogs
The Dogs won the flag last year without having a really dominant key forward. They papered over it last year, but they couldn't escape this season. Jake Stringer and Liam Picken led the goalkicking with 24 goals each, plainly not enough for a team with premiership aspirations. They need to determine whether he or Jack Redpath is their key forward going forward, and if not, they need to find one, because they don't have anyone close to goal with a bit of height and muscle to put the fear of death into opposition backlines.
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12. Hawthorn
Lots of injuries at Hawthorn this year to the knees and below – Grant Birchall, Cyril Rioli, James Frawley, Ben Stratton and Jaeger O'Meara were the most notable and the Hawks need to investigate why. The injuries were a blessing in that they forced the Hawks to play the kids, and for the most part they were impressive, but the Hawks will need most of those senior players fit and firing next year if they are to return to the finals.
13. Collingwood
Nathan Buckley's contract. See above.
14. Fremantle
The record shows eight wins for the season but that record was largely based on a purple patch of six wins from seven games in the first half of the season. The first item of business is for Ross Lyon is to look at the game plan because it fell to pieces in the second half of the year. With three years remaining on his deal, he has all the time he needs to fix it. Maybe, just maybe, he can take some encouragement from running finals-bound Essendon close in the final game if the year.
15. North Melbourne
Nothing to do just yet but sit and wait for the phone calls from Ralph Carr and Paul Connors. If one or both of Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly are heading to Arden Street, you re-sign the coach beyond 2018 and put their pictures on every billboard you can to sell the re-birth of the club. If they're not, then the time for the serious hand-on-heart conversation between the coach and the club has come.
If Dustin Martin heads to Arden St, buy up the billboards. Picture: AFL Photos
16. Carlton
The Blues are on a journey and they won't be deviating from it, but having addressed the backline and the midfield, with their list and draft decisions so far, is it time to address the forward line. The Blues need to score more and to do so they need to move the ball more quickly. And will they listen to Adelaide if the Crows want to deal for Bryce Gibbs? They're prepared to be more adventurous at the trade table this year and this could be the start.
17. Gold Coast
Find a coach. The Suns will have a pick of the emerging Level Four coaches and perhaps Brad Scott if he and the Kangaroos part ways. And the new coach's first order of business will be to work out the best way to exit Gary Ablett from the club. It is time to move on.
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18. Brisbane Lions
Credit Chris Fagan and David Noble for creating an environment at the Gabba that Tom Rockliff has clearly bought into. But their first order of business is to see whether it is mutually beneficial for the vice-captain and restricted free agent to stay with the club. The Lions are starting out on their rebuild and would likely snare another first-round pick as compensation if Rockliff moved on. They'll be more competitive next year if he remains a Lion, but might secure a key component of their next premiership-contending team if he leaves and they gain another high draft pick.
Letting Tom Rockliff leave might be the best call for the Lions. Picture: AFL Photos
