Collingwood to wait on Nathan Buckley contract extension amid 2020 drama

COLLINGWOOD is likely to wait until next year to extend Nathan Buckley's contract as the coach heads into the final season of his deal.

Buckley signed a two-year extension at the start of 2019 after steering the club to the previous year's Grand Final.

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The deal tied him to the Magpies through to at least the end of 2021, and he has since led the Pies to last year's preliminary final and looks set to again guide them to this year's finals series.

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But Magpies are unlikely to rush into talks over a contract extension ahead of next year, with Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson telling AFL.com.au's Footy Feed podcast that the club was focused on getting through this year's challenges. 

"This isn't a comment about Bucks, but a comment about everybody, we're just so much in the moment at this stage that we're just looking to get through this season and we're very focused on this season," Anderson said.

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"Bucks is contracted already until the end of next season and doing a great job. I've had the benefit of working with many great coaches across my career and Bucks is a ripper in terms of both style and his expertise and experience.

"I'm a massive rap on Bucks but we're just in the moment and given that he's got next season as well we're all just living in the moment and trying to ensure we get the best out of the 2020 season, and that includes player contracts as well."

It has been a tumultuous off-field season for the Pies, which included Buckley and assistant coach Brenton Sanderson breaching COVID-19 protocols while playing tennis with people outside of their hub.

Collingwood was fined $50,000, of which $25,000 is suspended, and Buckley and Sanderson will personally pay the remaining $25,000 section of the fine.

It followed vice-captain Steele Sidebottom's drunken night that saw him suspended for four games under the return to play breach.

Anderson said the club had been commended for its adherence to the strict rules generally. 

"At the time it was disappointing but I think for the most part our group has been really good. They've actually been recognised by those they've worked with as being really positive, collaborative and complied with everything we've needed to and embraced that," he said.

"It was disappointing on that front [with the breaches but] I think the positive out of the disappointment was all three just owned their mistakes immediately, didn't offer any excuses and understood they'd done the wrong thing in the moment and accepted the penalties."