TWO FACTORS appear to have swayed Collingwood to retain Nathan Buckley as coach.

When the club hierarchy scanned the coaching landscape as the season went off track, no obvious viable alternative to Buckley stood out.

Coupled with feedback that showed he still had the support of both the staff and players, the Magpies decided their best course was to stick with the known product that is Buckley.

It means he will becomes the only Magpies coach since Jock McHale did in 1940-44 to remain as coach after four years outside finals.

As football manager Geoff Walsh said, the coach isn't perfect. But Walsh was also in Buckley's corner, aware of the difficulties the coach has had to encounter since he succeeded Mick Malthouse in 2012.

Some of Buckley's problems have been self-inflicted because of his inexperience, but many have been a result of a club in denial about the effect of the handover, its position in the pecking order, its governance processes, its decision-making structure and its allocation of resources into list management and development.

Walsh, at the request of the board, went deeply into the reasons why the Magpies have slid further down the ladder under Buckley and decided he should not be the man to pay the price for the club's problems. 

He also knew that the two other reviews being conducted – into the board and the whole of the club – which will be discussed at September's board meeting, gave the football department a chance to set up an improved football program next season with a more appropriate level of input from the next CEO. 

If Richmond had done it, then Collingwood could to, not that Walsh used the Tigers' example when making his recommendation.

With Buckley's future assured for the next two seasons, the coach and football manager will have several questions to address immediately to ensure excuses don't have any more validity in assessing the Magpies' performance.  

1. More resources need to be allocated to list management 

The process that led to mystifying decisions made in last year's trade period provide the perfect example as to why the club has found itself out of the finals.

Former CEO Gary Pert's decision to appoint Graeme Allan as football manager in September before informing Buckley, list manager Derek Hine and the incumbent Neil Balme created a climate of mistrust and uncertainty at exactly the time when key list management decisions need to be made. 

It meant the Magpies signed Chris Mayne to an eyebrow-raising four-year deal but was unable to find a sidekick to support Darcy Moore when Travis Cloke departed.

The structure will change with the potential appointment of a pro-scout and a more precise delineation to be established between those who scrutinise the trade/free agency market and the draft pool.

What that means for the personnel such as Hine, who oversaw the building of the 2010 premiership list, remains to be seen but change is certain. 

2. Coaching panel must attract outsiders

With the senior coach in place, the focus has moved to those coaches surrounding Buckley.

It's unfair to imagine they are the problem as individuals but the mix will change.

Sources suggest the development process needs reshaping and a more scientific approach to coaching goalkicking, ruck work and a variety of skills is essential.

Brenton Sanderson and Brad Gotch are contracted but the remainder of the coaching staff are either on the move or in abeyance. It's been a tough time for all as they wait for decisions with Walsh expecting to provide clarity quickly.  

The club also needs to put new assistant coaches on deals longer than one year if it is to attract the best talent.

3. Expectations must be better communicated

There will be no more silly predictions of finishing positions or challenging for premierships but rather a more realistic ambition to improve every day.

Buckley said the club has beat its chest too heavily in recent seasons and he is right. It has not proved anything to anyone, merely raised suspicions that some of the club's leaders were poor at assessing where the team sat in the competition. 

The club needs to assess its list, be open with supporters about its trajectory and not mix messages about the talent being strong and the coaching good, but somehow accept 13th position. 

Nathan Buckley and Eddie McGuire at Monday's media conference. Picture: AFL Photos

4. Gain confidence in the conditioning process 

Injuries weren't as big a problem for Buckley in 2017 as they had been in the previous three seasons but the loss of Jamie Elliott in the first three weeks of the season was unhelpful, as was the slow progress of Daniel Wells. 

Wells began pre-season out of shape, hurt his calf and played just 10 games, being on the sidelines before the game was decided in two of those contests. By the time Scott Pendlebury hit the injury list the season was as good as over. 

This area has not been perfect but its performance has been consistent with most other clubs so minor tweaking is required. 

5. Don't ignore completely criticism of the game style 

Football clubs bristle at criticism of game style but external observers recognised the Magpies to be little threat when they moved the ball sideways and backwards in a desperate attempt to avoid contests and retain possession.

Collingwood was either not skilled enough to hit the risky 45-degree kick or not brave enough to make good decisions with their first quarters against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide and second and third quarters against Geelong recent examples of poor football. 

Carlton and Collingwood had the most kicks but both were mediocre to watch when they played keepings off. The Magpies were at their best when they attempted to move the ball quickly. 

6. Let the baker bake the bread

Boards at all football clubs often have more influence than knowledge. It's a conundrum for the Magpies with the most powerful, passionate and outspoken president at the helm in Eddie McGuire.

The board is being reviewed and from that process recommendations must flow that give football department both the authority to make decisions and the process to be accountable. McGuire has wanted to stick around in both the good times and the bad, which is admirable to some extent but unless the governance is best practice, the Magpies will struggle to attract the best people.

Buckley has been given another chance. The club has no more excuses.