Nathan Buckley says he'd take a call from Melbourne about the vacant coaching job
Buckley is among a lengthy list of potential candidates to take over at the Demons including two premiership winning coaches in John Longmire and Adam Simpson,
Goodwin was axed with a year to go on his contract and Buckley, who said he was ready for the attention to come his way, conceded there was a 'compelling case' to get back involved in coaching at the Demons.
Buckley, who took the Magpies to the 2018 grand final, has also been linked to the new Tasmanian team but while jobs are becoming available wasn't yet sure if he wanted to jump back in to coaching.
'I would take the call,' Buckley said on Wednesday.
'I would have a chat but a lot would have to fall into place to leave this position of comfort I have found.
'It's there (the coaching desire) otherwise it would be an easy no.
'I can't lie - when yesterday happened I knew this would all come around again.
'Even in yourself this brings a timeline forward again, if you feel like there's a case, if you like the people, if you see the opportunity to make a change and make a difference then you're going to have to work that out quick smart.
'I expect the call will come. I will take the next steps as they come.'
Despite Melbourne's failures in 2025, winning just seven games, and having not won a final since 2023, Buckley said he saw upside at the Demons.
'I think the Melbourne prospect is quite compelling,' he said further.
'There's a lot that needs to settle. Big club, storeyed history. Experience in the playing group is unquestioned and I like their young group of players as well.
'In that sense, there is a compelling case there. But there's plenty of water to go under the bridge.'
Buckley said he's know in his 'gut' whether he could invest the energy needed to coach again.
'When it feels right you have to jump. I don't think you have all the answers when you get in that position,' he told SEN.
'When I went into coaching it was a blind faith, this is my future and this is what I do, this is the next challenge, this is the next mountain to climb.
'If I went back into it I wouldn't be doing it the same way. It would be far more conscious and far more considered.'
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