Nathan Buckley and Chris Scott are inextricably linked.
The chain connecting Collingwood coach Buckley and Geelong mentor Scott extends into Friday night’s AFL qualifying final.
But it started way back, in 1993.
Buckley had just completed his first season as an AFL player, finishing second in Brisbane’s club champion award.
He went to Brisbane as a zone selection from the Northern Territory, where he spent his teenaged years.
But he was adamant he would play just one season with the club then known as the Bears before moving to a Melbourne-based outfit.
Buckley chose Collingwood, who in exchange traded to Brisbane two players – Craig Starcevich and Troy Lehmann – and pick No.12 in the ’93 draft.
Brisbane used that draft selection on Scott – the first link in the chain.
As players, both enjoyed long, decorated AFL careers.
Buckley’s 280 games included a Brownlow medal, seven All Australian selections, six Collingwood club champion awards. He won the inaugural AFL Rising Star award in 1993 in his sole season as a Bear.
Scott’s 215 matches included two premierships. He won the Rising Star award in 1994.
Both quit as players in 2007. Both quit somewhat unfulfilled.
Scott’s dual premierships couldn’t mask a nagging feeling as injuries curtailed the latter part of his playing career.
“I never became the player I thought I could become,” Scott lamented when announcing his retirement.
Buckley’s personal accolades couldn’t fill the hole of never playing in a premiership – he played in two losing grand finals, in 2002 and 2003.
“There is no way I can possibly fill that void,” Buckley has said.
Buckley’s first grand final heartbreak came in 2002. He won the Norm Smith medal as best-afield but Scott won his second premiership medal.
After their 2007 retirements, Buckley went into the media; Scott went to Fremantle as an assistant coach.
Buckley returned to Collingwood as an assistant coach in 2010. In October that year, Scott was appointed as Geelong’s head coach for 2011 and beyond.
The pair were involved in the 2011 grand final when Scott coached Geelong to the flag against Collingwood.
Scott, aged 35, was the youngest premiership coach since Carlton’s Alex Jesaulenko in 1979 and the first man since Malcolm Blight in 1997 to capture a flag in his first season as a head coach of a club.
As Scott rejoiced, Buckley watched on as an assistant coach in the knowledge he would, within days, take over from Mick Malthouse as the Magpies’ head coach.
Both could be excused for thinking that 2011 grand final would mark the start of respective dynasties.
Both were in charge of powerhouse teams; both in command at clubs with financial clout and massive supporter bases.
Both coaches have found the AFL’s promised land – the finals. Scott has missed the play-offs just once, in 2015, but Buckley endured four-straight seasons outside the finals until returning last year.
But both, since the 2011 grand final, haven’t found the ultimate success – a premiership.
Scott’s Geelong haven’t reached another grand final; Buckley’s Collingwood made last year’s decider but lost.
Both have found challenges in the other – they have met as coaches 11 times with Buckley winning six, Scott five.
Friday night, when they return to the MCG, will be the first time they have coached against each other in a final.
