- Great was overlooked as new Melbourne Demons head coach
Footy legend Nathan Buckley has declared he is happy to miss out on the head coaching role at Melbourne because the knockback allows him to focus on winning the vacant role at Tasmania.
The Tigers are tipped to enter the AFL competition in 2028.
After Collingwood great Buckley requested more time to weigh up the decision, the Demons appointed Geelong assistant Steven King from 2026 onwards.
Buckley will now meet with Tasmanian football director Alastair Lynch, president Grant O’Brien and chief executive Brendon Gale on Tuesday to discuss future plans.
‘I had to risk sacrificing an opportunity to coach Melbourne to keep an opportunity to coach Tasmania, because the timelines just didn’t match up,’ Buckley said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
‘Melbourne, rightfully, made the decision on a coach that was absolutely all-in and wanted to do the job and that was Steven King.’
Footy legend Nathan Buckley has declared he is happy to miss out on the head coaching role at Melbourne, preferring to focus on the vacant job with the Tasmania Devils
Buckley (pictured with ex-partner Brodie Ryan) is keen to build a club from the ground up
After Collingwood great Buckley requested more time to weigh up the decision, the Demons opted to appoint Geelong assistant Steven King from 2026 onwards
Buckley – who coached the Magpies to the 2018 Grand Final – added he was ‘more attracted to the Tasmania job than the Melbourne job’ as working with a new sporting franchise would be a unique opportunity.
‘Prosecuting [weighing up] the Melbourne case and where I sit in my coaching career [I’ve concluded] I do want to coach again… and I haven’t really been able to say that until probably about a month ago,’ he said.
‘I’d love to be involved in the Tassie process, and that journey. I’ll have a chat with them and see if that’s involved in a more official capacity.’
Conversations surrounding the Devils are tipped to increase in the coming weeks.
The Tasmanian Planning Commission is set to release its final report on the Hobart stadium on Wednesday, which will include a recommendation on whether to build the stadium.
The AFL has also made it clear if the 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point isn’t built, they won’t approve the Devils’ license to join the competition.
Meanwhile in March, the Devils left footy fans horrified after the club unveiled its new mascot with the bizarre name Rum’un.
They also revealed the side’s logo and kit, with the team set to wear a green jumper with a golden image of the Apple Isle across its front.
‘Our newest recruit, Rum’un, will help us on our journey and be a great beacon of our club across the state,’ Devils CEO Brendon Gale said.
‘The creation of Rum’un reflects our club – uniquely Tasmanian, handcrafted and created with grit and determination representing our whole island.
‘Rum’un is also a little bit cheeky. These characteristics are all true to the Tasmania Football Club, a club that represents our whole state and who does things our way.’
