Introduction
Jack Buckley (born 17 December 1997) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected by the Greater Western Sydney Football Club as a Category B rookie from the NSW zone in 2017. He is the son of former Australian rules footballer and former chairman of the North Melbourne Football Club, Ben Buckley.
Early football
Buckley played junior football for the Maroubra Saints, where he played in their Under 16 division's premiership. Buckley played for the UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs in the Sydney AFL league. He was recruited as a part of the Sydney's academy team at the age of 12, but quit 3 years later at the age of 15 after he found the academy 'too intense'. In the 8th round of his 2017 season with the Bulldogs, he won the league's rising star nomination after kicking four goals in his team's win.
AFL career
Despite being signed as a Category B rookie in late 2017, Buckley he did not debut for the Giants until late into the 2020 AFL season. After a strong 2020 pre-season, in one game kicking 7 goals in a 93-point win over the Canberra Football Club alongside teammate Jake Riccardi, Buckley debuted in Greater Western Sydney's 5-point loss to Melbourne in the 17th round of the 2020 AFL season. On debut, Buckley collected 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles and a clearance. Buckley was upgraded from the rookie list at the conclusion of the season.
Isaac Heeney mark
In GWS's 2024 qualifying final against Sydney, Sydney player Isaac Heeney took what many to be considered Mark of the Year with a high-flying specky over Buckley, although Heeney was ineligible for the award due to it being in a finals match, something that attracted criticism in the press. In any case, Buckley received widespread respect and acclaim for his act of sportsmanship for holding Heeney's hand to ensure his fall was safe, as Heeney was otherwise falling head-first and could have suffered a severe injury had Buckley not intervened. Among the many that praised Buckley's quick thinking, Heeney's own mother public thanked Buckley on Facebook.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to the end of 2024
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2018 | Greater Western Sydney | 41 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 9.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| 2021 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 57 | 169 | 68 | 34 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 7.5 | 3.8 | 11.3 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| 2022 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 143 | 341 | 114 | 79 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.6 | 5.5 | 13.1 | 4.4 | 3.0 |
| 2024 | Greater Western Sydney | 44 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 202 | 117 | 319 | 133 | 46 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.8 | 5.1 | 13.9 | 5.8 | 2.0 |
| Career | 66 | 1 | 2 | 523 | 325 | 848 | 322 | 164 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.9 | 4.9 | 12.8 | 4.9 | 2.5 | ||