Nathan Buckley

This is the story of the last fifty years from the Premiership of Lou Richards in 1953 through to the days of Nathan Buckley and his men. We relive the triumphs of the fifties through Richards, Rose and Weideman. The Grand Final nightmares of the sixties and early seventies through Tuddenham, Thompson, Gabelich, Waters, and McKenna. We follow the epic struggles of Tom Hafey and his men as they took the Magpies to the top of the ladder only to have that ultimate prize cruelly snatched from their grasp. This is the story of a proud Football Club - there is none prouder.

Alan Didak chats Candidly about his 150 game career and journey at Collingwood, with club president Eddie McGuire, in this special commemorative program. Alan reflects on some of the greatest games he has been involved with the Magpies, including "the most important win ever" in the 2002 preliminary final against Port Adelaide. Four club greats Craig Kelly, Peter Daicos and Nathan Buckley reflect on Didak's action packed career and Alan compares this years Magpies with the 2002 team, which he describes as a team you would go to war with. Alan reckons the 2009 version can go all the way.

Channel Seven and former AFL player and football film maker Rob Dickson present an amazing all access look into our unique Australian Game. Hosted and narrated by Nathan Buckley, the Essence of the Game were allowed into the dressing rooms during the entire 2008 season to take a behind the scenes look at what makes football clubs tick, including Hawthorn and Geelong on Grand Final day. The documentary also celebrates the breadth of the game to everything from kids to international teams and what footy means to them. Commissioned by the AFL and Seven to capture the essence of football, this documentary tracks a range of football stories from the elite to the grassroots.

Old timers at Collingwood marvel at his skills. Commentators rave about his footballing prowess. In his distinguished football career Nathan Buckley just seems to get better with every season. A Grand Final hero with Port Adelaide, a Magarey Medal as South Australia's finest and the Norwich Rising Star as an outstanding rookie in the AFL and all before the age of 22.