Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley left a meeting with officials in charge of the new Tasmanian club this week ready and willing to be the club’s inaugural coach, should the job be offered to him.

Speaking after it was confirmed the Tasmanian Planning Commission rejected the application to build the team’s new $950m stadium at Macquarie Point, Buckley said the “unique challenge” of taking on a start-up team appealed to him.

Buckley had previously said he preferred the Tasmanian role over the one at Melbourne given to Steven King last week and has now declared his desire to return to the coaching ranks with the Devils when they join the AFL in 2028 after meeting with chief executive Brendon Gale on Monday.

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