Buckley says he expects the club to challenge for an AFL premiership in the near future.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says his side are capable of a top four finish if it irons out its injury problems and if the younger players on its list gain more AFL experience.
Buckley outlined the clubs plans at the club’s fan forum on Monday night, and says it hinges on a core group of existing players including Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke and Ben Reid.
The Magpies coach also said its brigade of youngsters, including forward Jamie Elliott, were emerging as leaders of the club and have the ability to push the club into premiership contention.
“I can’t tell you exactly how long it’s going to take, because I thought we were going to do better this year,” Buckley said at Monday night’s fan forum at the MCG.
“And if we had more players stand up we definitely would have. But next year I expect us to play the type of footy we played in the first half of the year for longer.”
The Magpies coach also dismissed reports that forward Tyson Goldsack is set to join Port Adelaide, with Buckley stating he was “very confident” the 27-year-old would remain at the club beyond 2015.
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