Read this. This is crap. Instead of saying Licca and Molloy had outstanding seasons, he rips Bucks apart. Bucks averaged 26 possies this year - and I'd swear he had more affective disposals than Ben Cousins - the next best thing with his 600 odd disposals for the year, pity he couldn't kick them straight - he is an out and out legend. Mike says, in all his infinite wisdom "Buckley is the only Magpie in MY top 50 players for 2001, and he's at no. 8.." Well then, he MUSt be the 8th best player in the league, and no other Collingwood players deserve a mention, cause Mike's ALWAYS right. Moron. He cant back down cause he's too bloody arrogant.Don't worry waht this a..hole says Bucks, I reckon you had a stellar year, played your guts out and that's all we ask at Collingwood. Love the club, bleed black and white, Pies for Premiers 2002. Suck on that Mike.
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Season 2001: Buckley's and none
By Mike Sheahan
Saturday, October 06, 2001
NATHAN Buckley must wonder what else can go wrong in his football life this year.
Collingwood missed the finals yet again, finishing ninth this time, one win shy of a spot in the eight.
Seven days ago, Brisbane, the club he abandoned so he could ''play in finals'' at Collingwood, stormed to the 2001 premiership.
Finally, last night, he finished an embarrassing third in Collingwood's best and fairest.
The All-Australian winger finished behind Paul Licuria and Jarrod Molloy.
It was inconceivable to outsiders that anyone other than Buckley could win the best and fairest, as he had done five times before, including the past three.
Excluding a fourth in 1995, it is the worst result from his eight seasons at Victoria Park.
Buckley was 6-1 second-favourite in the Brownlow Medal after Round 15, and 16-1 and eighth in the betting at the end of the home-and-away series.
Admittedly, the bookies keep him safe because of the weight of money from Collingwood supporters, but he was seen to have a solid year before trailing off in the latter stages.
Perhaps the match committee is trying to hammer home a message about the way he plays. About recurring flaws in his game.
Whatever the motivation, Buckley's 526 possessions (14 goals) while carting round the opposition's best stopper each week has to be seen as a weighty contribution.
Not Buckley at his best, perhaps, yet still a solid contribution. An average of 26 possessions a week.
Licuria is an honest toiler who gets plenty of the ball (499 possessions), but his win says more about match committee frustration with Buckley than Licuria's sudden elevation to elite status.
While Molloy made a significant impact at Victoria Park in his first year, he, too, tapered off significantly.
Buckley is the sole Collingwood representative in my Top 50 most valuable players of the 2001 season, and he is listed at No.8.
Best-and-fairest results are fascinating events.
Anthony Koutoufides couldn't win at Carlton last year when clearly he was the player of the year, yet he wins this year after a season that was solid rather than brilliant, and after Brett Ratten had what was seen as a stellar season.
We concede that no one knows their players better than the coaching staff, but...
Whatever happens from here, there can be no bigger shock in best-and-fairest results this year than the one produced by the Magpies last night.
Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....
