Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley forced to auction off footy memorabilia after divorce

Collingwood legend Nathan Buckey has been forced to sell a treasure trove of personal AFL memorabilia, including the guernsey he wore in his historic Norm Smith Medal-winning performance in Collingwood’s 2002 grand final loss, after the end of his 18-year marriage.

Match-worn jumpers, playing socks, tracksuits, signed footballs and playing cards are among more than 200 items listed in “The Nathan Buckley Collection” by Melbourne auctioneers Leski Auctions.

Auctioneer Charles Leski said Buckley was “unlikely” to ever sell the prized possessions were it not for the end of his marriage in 2020.

“This collection, sold under difficult circumstances, gives us a rare glimpse into the life of a sporting hero,” Mr Leski told 7NEWS.

Buckley and his wife Tania Minnici split in late 2020, the year that the then-coach of Collingwood spent much of the season interstate due to COVID restrictions.

A number of pieces from his playing days at the Magpies are on offer to bidders, including his framed guernsey from the club’s 2002 grand final defeat to the Brisbane Lions.

Despite the loss, Buckley won the Norm Smith Medal for his “best on ground” performance in the game — it is an achievement that has only happened on three other occasions in VFL and AFL history.

The starting bid for the jumper is $2400, but it is estimated to sell for between $3000 and $5000.

Another of Buckley’s grand final guernseys is up for auction: the black and white lace-up jumper he wore in Port Adelaide’s SANFL victory over Glenelg in 1992. He was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal for his best on ground performance in that grand final, too.

The 1992 win was the cherry on top of a “barnstorming season” for Buckley, Leski notes, in which he also won the Magarey Medal and Port’s best and fairest for the season.

A $2600 bid has already been placed on the prison bar jumper, which is estimated to sell for between $3000 and $5000.

Other framed guernseys on offer include a number from his representative days — with South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland in the 1993 State of Origin series — his commemorative Rising Star guernsey, and many from his Collingwood training, home and away, and milestone games.

Buckley has also listed his many ‘Player of the Year’ awards — including his 2003 Lou Richards Medal — as well as a signed and framed composite guernsey created to commemorate the 2003 Brownlow Medal three-way tie between Buckley, Marh Riccutio and Adam Goodes.

Some of the items have already had bids placed on them, including footy shorts, Collingwood kit bags, a Brisbane Bears branded Driza bone from 1993, tracksuits, and signed Sherrins from Buckleys’ milestone games.

The collection even extends beyond AFL, with Buckley selling off signed cricket, Rugby League and Union gear.

Also among the miscellaneous lots is a custom-made jersey made “by a group of friends to try to get Buckley to play on their indoor soccer team” — it has already received a bid for $40.