Nathan Buckley’s life has been governed by two things: family and footy.

Born in South Australia, Nathan’s family moved up to the Northern Territory when he was 10. With the exception of a brief rebellion into the world of tennis when he was 14, Nathan’s life mostly revolved around getting as good at footy as he possibly could.

Nathan was drafted to the Brisbane Bears in 1991 – a move he initially challenged due to his desire to play in football mad Melbourne. In 1993, Nathan relented, signing a contract with Brisbane, with an escape clause that would allow him to depart from the club at the end of the year.

During his first year playing at AFL level, Nathan won the league Rising  Star Award, as well as coming runner-up in the Brisbane club best and fairest.

In 1994, Nathan moved to Collingwood football club where, over his career, he would win the Brownlow Medal, be named club best and fairest  six times, and win a Norm Smith medal as a member of the losing team, the third person in history to do so.

Nathan was captain of the Collingwood football club from 1999, until his retirement in 2007, and is understood as one of the best players of all time.

In 2011 Nathan became head coach of the Collingwood Football Club, a position he held for 10 years.

Nathan is a well-known presence in the Australian media landscape. He shares his insights as an expert commentator on a variety of programs and podcasts, as well as competing on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here