AFL icon Nathan Buckley has pocketed close to $200,000 by auctioning off a selection of his most cherished sports memorabilia this week.
The former Collingwood captain and coach was compelled to part ways with over 200 items at Melbourne’s Leski Auctions as part of the stipulations of his divorce settlement with his ex-wife Tania Minnici, following their separation in late 2020.
An assortment of match-worn jerseys, game socks, tracksuits, autographed footballs, and collectible cards were included in “The Nathan Buckley Collection,” presented by Melbourne auction house Leski Auctions on Wednesday, resulting in a fervent bidding war that amassed nearly $192,000 for the assortment.
Among the prized possessions was the jersey Buckley donned during his historic Norm Smith Medal-winning performance in Collingwood’s 2002 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Lions, which fetched $16,000, claimed by bidder 515, marking the highest sale from the collection.
Another highlight was Buckley’s standout Grand Final jersey—a lace-up jumper he wore during Port Adelaide’s SANFL triumph over Glenelg in 1992—selling for $12,000 at auction.
Additionally, a framed “composite jersey” adorned with the colors of Collingwood, Adelaide, and Sydney to commemorate the Brownlow Medal shared between Buckley, Mark Riccutio, and Adam Goodes in 2003 also fetched $12,000.
Buyers eagerly snapped up various items including Buckley’s football shorts, equipment bags, a Brisbane Bears-branded Driza bone from 1993, tracksuits, and autographed Sherrin footballs from milestone games.
Interestingly, it was revealed that the Collingwood Football Club, where Buckley spent the majority of his 13-year playing career and served as an assistant coach during their 2010 Premiership triumph, participated in the auction, acquiring several items. The club reportedly intends to showcase these pieces at its museum.
The auction drew significant attention, with over 750 registered bidders—twice the usual number for Leski Auctions’ sports memorabilia auctions. Auctioneer Charles Leski noted that without the end of Buckley’s marriage in 2020, it’s unlikely these prized possessions would have been made available for sale. He emphasized the importance of honoring Buckley’s remarkable career through the auction, which garnered substantial interest even before its official commencement.
