After a week ofpublic debate about Buckley’s future and whether finals should be a focus this season,one thing is now clear:finals are definitely off the agenda. At 1-6,it would take something extraordinary for the battered Magpies to be alive come September.
That they had their fifth debutant of the season,Caleb Poulter - who showed good signs on a wing - and had five players with less than five matches surely meant the Magpies,privately at least,knew where they really stood. Regardless,Buckley,the club and the list-management department which still has major salary-cap issues can expect another week in the spotlight.
The restlessness of Magpie supporters was palpable in the goalless second term while the Suns booted four to take a 19-point lead into the main break. The visitors took charge at the clearances - the Magpies’ 22-7 dominance in the hit outs did not matter - and they finally opted to take a more direct route to goal,ensuring the Magpies’ defence was under enormous pressure.
Despite this,Buckley maintained All-Australian defender Darcy Moore up forward for the entire day. He finished with only five touches - the least amount on the ground - and this,too,will also be scrutinised for he may have been better off manning young Sun Josh Corbett who had 11 marks and booted four goals.
Then came a frustrating third term when the Magpies were dominant around the ground when Scott Pendlebury,Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy lifted but they could not finish this work on the scoreboard. The Pies booted the opening two goals but let that slip when emerging Sun Ben King dribbled one through and veteran David Swallow pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the goal square. When clearance king Hugh Greenwood converted,the Suns again had the upper hand,something they maintained in the final term when the Pies were expected to challenge.
The hard-running Touk Miller,Brandon Ellis,Jack Bowes and Greenwood were instrumental in the win at a time returning Magpie Jordan De Goey,back from concussion,lacked zip,botched a set shot from 25m out in front and,at times,appeared even uninterested. His future also remains a talking point.