Australian Football

Of wiry build, but more than capable of holding his own in physical contests, Carlton's Brian Buckley was a capable ruckman who really came into his own when resting in defence. Occasionally asked to fill in at full back, he was arguably better suited to a back pocket, standing the opposing side's resting ruckman. Tough, resolute and eminently reliable, he played 116 VFL games and kicked six goals for the Blues between 1956 and 1965. He was not a regular senior player in his debut season, and indeed he won the reserves best and fairest award that year, but thereafter he became  stalwart of the side. His biggest disappointment came in 1962 when he missed selection in Carlton's grand final team because of injury.

After leaving Carlton Brian Buckley was appointed captain-coach of VFA first division club Port Melbourne whom he promptly steered to the 1966 flag. A year later the Borough again reached the grand final only to lose to Dandenong. However, the match, which was one of the most tempestuous in Association history, is probably best remembered for Buckley's threat to take his players from the field of play midway through the second quarter because of what he regarded as biased umpiring. In the event, the threat was not carried out and Port, trailing only narrowly at that stage, eventually finished more than four goals in arrears.

Author - John Devaney