Buckley's focus purely on field

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is keen to downplay the significance of his side's first meeting with former mentor Mick Malthouse's Carlton side at the MCG on Sunday.

Buckley served his coaching apprenticeship under Malthouse, New Era Snapback Hats   as part of the infamous 'succession plan' implemented by Pies president Eddie McGuire, before taking the reins in the top job for the 2012 season.

Malthouse has gone on the record in recent days to reveal his bitteess over the way his tenure at Collingwood ended, adding spice to what is always a heated class between the two old rivals.

But, speaking at the St Kilda Sea Baths on Wednesday, Buckley was keen to ensure things stay focused on the field.

"It's pretty hard to avoid it, given the coection to the club so recent and then going to the arch enemy," he said.

"The real action's going to be on the field come game day."

When asked if he would acknowledge Malthouse before Sunday's match, Buckley said it was not something he had plaed on.

"I very rarely get to any of the opposition coaches on game day. I caught up with Mick at the coach's AGM last week. I'll see him tomorrow at the Peter MacCallum breakfast," Buckley said.

"I've got nothing but respect for Mick, I've leat a lot from himIn4mation Snapbacks Hat     . Played under him for a number of years as his captain, worked under him as an assistant coach in the plan to eventually become senior coach.

"We've had many frank discussions, not in recent times, but we had many frank discussions about that situation and I understand what took place and he understands what took place.

"I don't think there's a lot of understanding exteally."

Buckley refused to be drawn on whether he felt it would be sad if Malthouse and McGuire never buried the hatchet.

"That's exteal to the game. That's a good headline, a good storyline, but once again that takes the focus off the field which is really where it should stay," he said.

Despite not making the finals in 2012, Carlton defeated Collingwood twice last season - by 60 and 23 points - and Buckley is keen to make sure his side is tougher around the ball this time out.

"They've got a lot of speed on the fringes and they're very strong through the midfield," he said.

"They've nutted us at contested ball and clearances in the last couple of occasions.

"We're in the middle of a three-game run where we play teams that we played six times last year and didn't get a win, so we've ticked one box with last week's performance (against North Melboue).

"We come in against a side that's done really well in the clinches New Era Dopetastic Snapbacks against us and I think that's where it'll start and end."