Buckley a good man for Roos job: Laidley - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Buckley a good man for Roos job: Laidley

18/06/2009 11:19:18 PM Comments (0)

Recently-departed North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley says Nathan Buckley would be a good appointment to lead the Kangaroos in the AFL in 2010.

Laidley announced on Tuesday he was quitting the Kangaroos job after six-and-a-half seasons, and said on Thursday night he hoped to get another job at a rival club next year.

While he ruled out serving as an assistant under Buckley at North, he said the Kangaroos and the former Collingwood champion would be a good fit.

"Nathan would be a good appointment for the North Melbourne Football Club," Laidley told the Nine Network.

Buckley is high on the Kangaroos' wishlist to replace Laidley, and club chairman James Brayshaw confirmed he would meet with the coach-in-waiting's manager soon.

"He will be one of the people we speak to," Brayshaw said.

"He's a superstar and he's got an enormous amount to offer any footy club that he ends up being the coach of, so we would be negligent as a club if we didn't explore where he's at."

Laidley reiterated he felt it was time to leave North after 149 games in charge, especially after he could not achieve his goal of winning the 2007 premiership.

The Kangaroos reached the preliminary final that season despite several off-field hurdles, including criticism directed at Laidley by club great Wayne Carey.

Carey said at the time Laidley was arrogant and should have been replaced as coach by former North star John Longmire, the Sydney assistant coach.

Laidley said on Thursday night he was not impressed by Carey's comments, but that the former premierships teammates had patched up their differences.

"At the time I probably didn't appreciate the comments with what we'd been through," Laidley said.

"We'd been working particularly hard and he hadn't been part of the football club and he saw it from afar.

"But we caught up for breakfast when he came down for (this year's) hall of fame (induction) and spent two or three hours together.

"He gave his version of the story and I certainly gave mine and we've spoken a couple of times since, so (I have) absolutely no issue (with him)."

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