Nathan Buckley, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Adelaide Crows, Ken Hinkley, Matthew Nicks, Eddie McGuire, new coach, Tasmania Devils

Eddie McGuire he appealed to both Port Adelaide and Adelaide to explore the option of bringing in the former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.

It comes after The Power’s dismal 79-point defeat at the hands of Brisbane in the 15th round.

Hinkley was booed by the Port fans when he was shown on the big screen at Adelaide Oval, then again when he appeared briefly at the ground as he walked to the dressing rooms at the end of the match.

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It has sparked conversations about his likely replacement, who could step into the role a year early if the club choose to part ways with Hinkley before his contract expires in 2025.

The Power have suggested assistant coach and 2004 premiership player Josh Carr will be the man to turn to when Hinkley’s time is up.

But now McGuire is urging the Power and even the Crows to look beyond the four walls at one of the league’s most high profile.

“I’m a Ken supporter and I’m a Matthew Nicks supporter in Adelaide,” McGuire said on Nine’s The Eddie and Jimmy Podcast.

“But there is for me, a really standout person who is not doing much in football at the moment, who could raise the tone and the spotlight in South Australia.

“He might have been one of the greatest players in the history of the game. His name is Nathan Buckley.”

Buckley coached Collingwood from 2012 until 2021, when he was axed mid-season.

He led the Pies to a grand final in 2018.

But it’s not just his past coaching tenure that has McGuire eager to get back into the game.

“I look at the marketing side of things. First of all, you have to be able to coach, but you also need the presence,” McGuire said.

“Adelaide for such a big side, it just doesn’t seem to have presence.”

Buckley could reinvent soccer culture in the church town, according to McGuire.

“The trick is to pick people you know who can really coach and have the personality to lead people and the right support around them,” he said.

Buckley has been linked with the AFL’s 19th team, Tasmania, which will not enter the league until 2028.

The former Pies manager did not deny he was approached by the club to eventually become their senior coach.

But he is still a few years away, with McGuire keen to make him take over at Port Adelaide in the short term as they still prepare for finals.

“I think if Bucks is going to be the coach, I’d like to see him come back a bit sooner rather than waiting for Tasmania or something like that,” he said.

“That’s going to take him out (of coaching) for a long time, he’s not even an assistant coach.”

The Tasmania Devils will join the AFL in 2028.

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide is in eighth place with an 8-6 record, while Adelaide is in 15th place with a 4-9-1 record.