'So weird': Nathan Buckley given strange gift before AFL farewell

Nathan Buckley will coach his final game for Collingwood against Melbourne at the SCG on Monday afternoon, and a bizarre memento was produced to mark the occasion.

The Magpies great announced last week that he would step down from the head coaching job, amid a tumultuous season which has seen the club battered by off-field controversies and anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

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In a sad turn of events, Buckley's final game in charge of the Magpies won't be at the MCG, with the annual Queen's Birthday game between the Magpies and Demons moved to Sydney due to Melbourne's latest lockdown.

Prior to the game getting underway, Buckley was presented with a chunk of turf from the SCG.

The gift came complete with a plaque commemorating his many contributions to the AFL as both a player and coach.

“This turf is from the Sydney Cricket Ground where Buckley coached his final match on Monday, June 14, 2021 and was presented to honour his contribution to Australian sport," the plaque read.

Collingwood later confirmed on Twitter that the gift was organised by Tony Shepherd, the chair of the SCG Trust.

Collingwood (3-9) registered a stirring win away to Adelaide last week but will start rank outsiders against the ladder-leading Demons (11-1).

"To know that it's the last time that I do it here (at Collingwood) gives me pause for thought and it will bring up different emotions, I'm sure," Buckley said.

"But I'm just excited now to have a real crack at this week and to see how we'll go on Monday.

"I'm not expecting the players are going to find another five per cent - I'm certainly hoping that they gave everything they had last week and the week before - and I'm not a big one for milestones.

"But I'm sure it will definitely be a game that will stand out to me and one that I'll reflect on, so if we can get the four points it will be one that's even better to reflect on."

Nathan Buckley set for final AFL game coaching Collingwood

The last three Collingwood-Melbourne Queen's Birthday meetings (2017-2019) have drawn crowds of more than 70,000 at the MCG.

The annual pre-match Big Freeze slide fundraiser - in support of Neale Daniher's FightMND charity - has become almost as big a drawcard as the fixture itself.

A comparitively low crowd is expected in Sydney but Buckley is hopeful he'll still be able to bid farewell to a sizeable number of Magpies fans.

"There will be Collingwood people that will have the opportunity to be up there," Buckley said.

"I don't think the fans and Collingwood people have ever missed an opportunity to show their gratitude to me.

"I've felt that throughout my time here in many different roles.

"On the flipside, I'm the one that feels like I've got the long end of the stick in this relationship and I'm very grateful for it.

"At some stage there will be an opportunity to thank the fans ... I hope that I've been able to do that with my actions along the way also."

Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson said the club will organise an "appropriate farewell" for Buckley with members and supporters at a later date.

Anderson described former Magpies captain Buckley as a "towering figure" and "legend" of the club after he spent most of the last 27 years in black and white.

With AAP

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