Updated July 20, 2026 — 9:40pm, first published 12:57pm
In today’s AFL briefing: Carlton have sought clarity from prominent commentator David King after he questioned Harry McKay’s pain threshold on Saturday night. The Magpies and premiership forward Bobby Hill are set to part ways. Essendon star Nate Caddy has been discharged from hospital and is expected to play this week. Nathan Buckley has opened up about his extreme disappointment on missing out on the gig as the Tasmania Devils’ first senior coach and says the situation has left him at a “fork in the road”.
Buckley, who coached Collingwood to the 2018 grand final, has cast strong doubt that he’ll throw his hat in the ring for two other vacant coaching jobs in the AFL – the next senior coaches at Carlton and Essendon.
Nathan Buckley says he will stay focused on immediate priorities at Geelong. via Getty Images “I haven’t really reflected on where those roles sit,” a candid Buckley said on Fox Footy on Monday night – little more than 24 hours after he discovered his Tasmania dream had been dashed.
“And I don’t think I will enter those processes [to coach the Bombers or Blues].
“I’m absolutely focused on the next six to 10 weeks [as an assistant coach] with Geelong and how that plays out.
“I was committed to that [the Tasmania job]. And that [ambition] ended a day ago.”
Ken Hinkley is unveiled in Tasmania as the Devils’ inaugural AFL coach. Getty Images The dramatic events unfolded in Tasmania on the weekend as the Devils board met and settled on Ken Hinkley as their biggest appointment ahead of joining the AFL for the 2028 season.
Buckley said he was informed by Devils CEO Brendon Gale that he had been unsuccessful.
“I heard from Brendon Gale yesterday afternoon with a missed call and then a text because obviously things were moving pretty quickly,” Buckley said.
“I went home, kicked the dog, threw the toys out of the cot, and then woke up this morning and went to my job at Geelong.
“I think it’s taken me a little bit of time to reflect because I was really keen on it. I was in on it.”
Buckley said he would seek feedback from the Tasmania hierarchy – but only a
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