Buckley Out for Two Games

[Beaussie]

Buckley to miss first two games
20 March 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 22,00.html

COLLINGWOOD captain Nathan Buckley will miss at least the first fortnight of the season after suffering a hamstring strain yesterday at training.

Buckley injured his left hamstring, with Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh describing it as "a genuine strain".

"He nicked his hamstring yesterday, so it's an injury that would keep him out for the standard 21-28 days," Walsh told Channel 9.

Buckley has not played any pre-season games, with Collingwood carefully managing him in the past few weeks as he coped with tightness in his right hamstring.

Collingwood will be conservative with his rehabilitation and Buckley might not start the season until around Round 4.

The Brownlow medallist, 35, needed surgery on his right hamstring two years ago, putting him out of action for half the season.

There were fears at the time that the injury might end his career.

"It's a genuine strain of the hamstring," Walsh said of this latest setback. "Attach his name to it, it's a little bit more significant."

Buckley managed 21 of 23 Collingwood games last season and kicked 26 goals, playing mainly as a forward.

The Magpies rested him from two games to help ensure he would be fit throughout the season.

One of the game's all-time greats, Buckley has been Collingwood captain for eight seasons.

Buckley is said to be keen to continue his outstanding 275-game career beyond this year.

AAP