Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley has knocked back an approach from West Coast to apply for the Eagles’ coaching vacancy.
7NEWS understands Buckley was this week contacted directly by West Coast CEO Don Pyke to quiz him on the prospect of becoming the Eagles’ next coach.
After a phone call that ran around 30 minutes on Wednesday, Buckley informed Pyke that he was yet to get his head around the prospect of a return to the coaches’ box and wouldn’t be taking part in the process.
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Buckley departed Collingwood midway through his 10th season at the helm in 2021 and has spent the last three seasons working in the media.
The 52-year-old has never shut down the possibility of coaching again but has consistently reiterated he was yet to find the fire in the belly for a return.
Buckley will continue to be linked with the possibility of coaching Tasmania ahead of their expected introduction into the competition in 2028.
He joins Sydney senior assistant coach and Eagles legend Dean Cox and Port Adelaide midfield coach Josh Carr in ruling themselves out of the running for the West Coast job.
Fremantle forwards coach and ex-Eagle Jaymie Graham and Carlton senior assistant and Eagles premiership forward Ash Hansen are expected to be key contenders.
Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa, GWS assistant Brett Montgomery and Eagles interim Jarrad Schofield are others who have been linked with the Eagles’ process.
Melbourne assistant coach Andrew McQualter told 7NEWS last week he would take a call from the Eagles should it arise having run second to Adem Yze in the Tigers’ coaching race last year.
Sam Mitchell’s right-hand man and West Coast premiership assistant Adrian Hickmott is another name to watch. He also coach spent time with Pyke in the Eagles’ coaches’ box before Pyke was named Adelaide coach.
Geelong’s Steven King, Melbourne’s Troy Chaplin, Collingwood’s Hayden Skipworth and Richmond’s Chris Newman are among the other assistant coaches’ seen as potential future senior coaches.
The Eagles this week named their five-person panel to find their next coach – led by Pyke, football manager Gavin Bell, directors Jan Cooper and Rowan Jones and Geelong triple premiership defender Harry Taylor.