Nathan Buckley celebrates with family after final AFL game as Collingwood coach

Nathan Buckley celebrated his final AFL game as Collingwood coach on Monday.

The AFL legend, 48, led the Magpies for the final time as they took on competition leaders Melbourne Demons in their Queen’s Birthday clash at the SCG. 

It was a bittersweet final match for the coach, with the Collingwood Magpies scoring a 17 -point win over the Melbourne Demons. 

Over: Nathan Buckley celebrated his final AFL game as Collingwood coach on Monday. Pictured with son Jett 

Nathan was flanked by his sons, Jett, 14, and Ayce, 12, who cheered on their dad before embracing him after the win. 

The coach was congratulated by team and crew alike, and appeared in great spirits ahead of his departure. 

While his sons kept close to their dad, nowhere to be seen was Nathan’s new girlfriend Alex Pike, 42. 

Final: The AFL legend, 48, ledthe Magpies for the final time as they took on competition leaders Melbourne Demons in their Queen's Birthday clash at the SCG

Final: The AFL legend, 48, ledthe Magpies for the final time as they took on competition leaders Melbourne Demons in their Queen’s Birthday clash at the SCG

Sweet: It was a bittersweet final match for the coach, with the Collingwood Magpies scoring a 17 -point win over the Melbourne Demons. Pictured with son Ayce

Sweet: It was a bittersweet final match for the coach, with the Collingwood Magpies scoring a 17 -point win over the Melbourne Demons. Pictured with son Ayce

Family: Nathan was flanked by his sons, Jett, 14, and Ayce, 12

Family: Nathan was flanked by his sons, Jett, 14, and Ayce, 12

Happy for dad: They cheered on their dad before the game, and embraced him after the win

Happy for dad: They cheered on their dad before the game, and embraced him after the win

Sweet moment: Nathan gave his boys lots of love as his team looked on

Sweet moment: Nathan gave his boys lots of love as his team looked on 

The glamorous cosmetic nurse appeared to have sat out the game at home, leaving Nathan to spend some quality time with his sons.    

Buckley stepping aside from his beloved Magpies shocked many footy fans, with the popular opinion being he was pushed out of the poorly-performing team.  

Several well-placed sources suggested Buckley fell out of favour with the current playing squad, which accelerated his departure. 

Not there: While his sons kept close to their dad, nowhere to be seen was Nathan's new girlfriend Alex Pike, 42 (pictured)

Not there: While his sons kept close to their dad, nowhere to be seen was Nathan’s new girlfriend Alex Pike, 42 (pictured) 

Home: The glamorous cosmetic nurse appeared to have sat out the game at home, leaving Nathan to spend some quality time with his sons

Home: The glamorous cosmetic nurse appeared to have sat out the game at home, leaving Nathan to spend some quality time with his sons

He took over as head coach from Mick Malthouse in 2012, but has remained tight-lipped about his shock decision to leave.  

Alex was meanwhile one of the first to publicly show support for her man following the announcement of his departure on social media.

She labelled Buckley a ‘powerhouse’ on one of Collingwood’s many Instagram tributes.  

Happy: The coach was congratulated by team and crew alike

Happy: The coach was congratulated by team and crew alike

All smiles: He appeared in great spirits ahead of his departure

All smiles: He appeared in great spirits ahead of his departure

Talk: Buckley stepping aside from his beloved Magpies shocked many footy fans, with the popular opinion being he was pushed out of the poorly-performing team

Talk: Buckley stepping aside from his beloved Magpies shocked many footy fans, with the popular opinion being he was pushed out of the poorly-performing team

Alex also shared a quote about ‘letting go’ – seemingly a reference to Nathan’s decision to quit his role with the Magpies after nine years.  

‘As we let go of adventures no longer meant for us, we brought new ones aligned with our magic,’ she wrote on Instagram.

She earlier shared two other cryptic quotes: ‘Comfort zones: If you live in one too long… that becomes your norm. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.’

Pictured: With his sons ahead of the game at Melbourne's SCG

Pictured: With his sons ahead of the game at Melbourne’s SCG 

Rumors: Several well-placed sources suggested Buckley fell out of favour with the current playing squad, which accelerated his departure

Rumors: Several well-placed sources suggested Buckley fell out of favour with the current playing squad, which accelerated his departure

The second read: ‘What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.’      

Alex and Nathan, who have known each other since at least the start of the year, were pictured together for the first time last month.

The romance between the new couple is said to be ‘effortless’.

Career moves: He took over as head coach from Mick Malthouse in 2012

Career moves: He took over as head coach from Mick Malthouse in 2012

Silent: Nathan has remained tight-lipped about his shock decision to leave

Silent: Nathan has remained tight-lipped about his shock decision to leave

Support: Alex was meanwhile one of the first to publicly show support for her man following the announcement of his departure on social media

Support: Alex was meanwhile one of the first to publicly show support for her man following the announcement of his departure on social media

‘They are happy. It’s all good. It’s just very easy and comfortable really. They have a genuine connection,’ a friend of the couple told the Herald Sun.

The source added that Alex isn’t after fame, and isn’t ‘daunted’ by the attention that comes with being a WAG either.  

The pair’s relationship emerged just weeks after the champion midfielder announced his split from his wife of 18 years, Tania Minnici, last December. 

Power: She labelled Buckley a 'powerhouse' on one of Collingwood's many Instagram tributes

Power: She labelled Buckley a ‘powerhouse’ on one of Collingwood’s many Instagram tributes