Updated October 4, 2026 — 3:56pm,first published 1:03pm

Nathan Buckley has withdrawn from the race to become North Melbourne’s next senior coach, delivering a major twist in the Kangaroos’ search for Alastair Clarkson’s replacement.

Two industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed to this masthead that Buckley had informed those involved in the process that he will not pursue the vacant position, ruling himself out of a return to senior coaching at Arden Street.

Buckley was due to formally present to the coaching panel on Saturday, but told the club late last week that he would be removing himself from the process.

It means Clarkson’s successor is set to be a first-time coach, with Daniel Giansiracusa, Jaymie Graham, David Hale and North assistant Xavier Clarke all in the mix.

The Roos’ hunt for a new coach coincides with Brisbane’s, who need to replace retiring triple-premiership coach Chris Fagan.

The Lions board will meet this week to decide whether to conduct a targeted process or throw the vacancy open to all candidates.

Buckley had loomed as one of the most compelling candidates available to North as the club searches for the coach to lead its next era.

His decision leaves the Kangaroos without one of the biggest names in the market and will force them to narrow their focus elsewhere as they continue the process of appointing Clarkson’s successor.

Buckley, 54, coached Collingwood for almost a decade, taking the club to the 2018 grand final and within a kick of a premiership, before stepping away in 2021 after 218 games in charge.

He has since rebuilt his football profile through the media and repeatedly resisted opportunities to get back into the coaches’ box before joining the Cats as an assistant coach in 2026.

The Kangaroos are searching for another coach after parting ways with Clarkson following four seasons in which the four-time premiership coach managed just 20 wins from 81 games.

President Sonja Hood raised eyebrows in the media conference announcing Clarkson’s sacking by stating North needed a coach for the modern game.

North believed their young list had reached a point where it required a different voice and a coach suited to taking the group through the next phase of its development.

Having already made the enormous call to move on from Clarkson, and having accumulated elite young talent through the draft, the Kangaroos are under pressure to get their next appointment right.

The Kangaroos last week appointed three-time premiership Tiger Kane Lambert as head of development.

Buckley’s decision to walk away from the North Melbourne opportunity after missing out on the top job with incoming side Tasmania suggests he is prepared to wait for the right job before returning as a senior coach.

He will continue as Chris Scott’s assistant at Geelong into 2027.

North Melbourne and Buckley were contacted for comment.

At Brisbane, the Lions have several strong internal candidates to consider as potential replacements for Fagan, who led the team to their third consecutive flag when they defeated Fremantle in the grand final.

His long-time lieutenant Danny Daly is at the front of the queue, according to a competition source with knowledge of the situation who preferred to remain anonymous, while assistant coach Cam Bruce is also a potential candidate, though the board will discuss which approach it takes to replace Fagan.

Bruce did his apprenticeship at the Hawks before becoming highly regarded at the Lions. Daly, who would need to be replaced as football manager if he were to take over from Fagan, started as an assistant coach at North Melbourne in 2003. He spent time at Richmond before joining the Lions in 2015, two seasons before Fagan’s appointment.

He became football manager in 2021 but was Fagan’s eyes and ears in the coaches box on match day and indicated on SEN before last week’s grand final he had a desire to be a senior coach.

“I’m not sure what life would be like without ‘Fages’ there so we might have to decide a few things myself. At the end of the day, it’s what’s best for the football club – whether that’s myself or a Cam Bruce, Dale Morris or getting someone new in,” Daly said.

“That will be their decision and I’m happy with whatever they decide.”

Although Fagan had informed some key confidantes this would be his final season, the board had not been in a position to discuss a potential successor until the decision was official.

Despite his success, Fagan was not among the highest-paid coaches in the game during his tenure, which enabled the Lions to fully resource the football department within the soft cap.

It makes attracting an experienced coach – such as Adam Simpson and Buckley – or attempting to poach a current coach – such as former Lions premiership players Chris Scott (Geelong) or Craig McRae (Collingwood) – more unlikely than likely. The board could decide to look at a field of first-time coaches, which may include former Lion Murray Davis who is now at the Crows.

Davis was interviewed for the Essendon coaching job won by Mark McVeigh.

The Lions have not contacted external candidates directly.

Adelaide’s Matthew Nicks, St Kilda’s Ross Lyon, the Western Bulldogs’ Luke Beveridge and the Eagles’ Andrew McQualter are out of contract at the end of 2027. McQualter is a chance to have his contract extended before the start of next season.

Only six coaches before Fagan have coached their team to a flag and not coached them the next season.

Hawthorn’s Allan Jeans was the most recent, when the legendary coach handed over the reins to Alan Joyce for a season in 1989 due to ill health. The Hawks went back-to-back.

Alex Jesaulenko left Carlton at the end of 1979 after a board upheaval and was replaced by Peter “Percy” Jones, while John Kennedy vacated the Hawks job in 1977 and handed it over to David Parkin on the eve of the 1978 season for family reasons.

Neither team won the flag the next season.

Frank “Checker” Hughes was replaced at Melbourne by Allan La Fontaine in 1949 after a long coaching career at Richmond and Melbourne. Reg Hickey replaced Charlie Clymo after Clymo coached for one season for one premiership in 1931 while Charlie Ricketts vacated the post at South Melbourne after winning the 1909 flag.

Lions CEO Sam Graham said on Thursday the club would announce its “next steps to appoint our next senior coach in due course”.

The Lions retained their key players Logan Morris and Zac Bailey beyond this season. Lachie Neale has joined Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent while Sam Marshall has nominated St Kilda as his preferred destination. Lions forward Will McLachlan is weighing up his future amid interest from several Victorian clubs including Melbourne.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

More:

• AFL 2026
• North Melbourne Kangaroos
• Brisbane Lions