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All I Can Be
Arguably the greatest player to represent Australia's most famous football club, Nathan Buckley's extraordinary achievements include a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal, six club best and fairest awards and nine seasons as captain of Collingwood.All I Can Be is the inspiring story of a true sporting legend, who gave his all but never experienced the glory of an AFL premiership. Together with frank commentary from family, friends, teammates, coaches and opponents, Buckley's brutally honest insights provide a rare, compelling glimpse into the heart and mind of one of football's finest, and his relentless quest to become the best he could be.'Buckley delivers'THE AGE'reveals the flaws, complexity and genuine humility of a superhero'AUSTRALAIN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'Exceptional for its genre'SUNDAY AGE
- GenresSports
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2017
Such an inspiring book written by an amazing human being.
Learning about his life and football achievements was hugely enjoyable and insightful. I honestly had no idea about what Bucks had been like before coaching collingwood, due to the fact that I didn't care about football till chris tarrant and then, to a bigger extent, Dale Thomas.
Before reading this book, the only thing I knew about Bucks was that he was a great footballer and that he comforted my beloved Daisy after the 2007 prelim loss even though Bucks was hurting himself.
I have the utmost faith in Nathan Buckley coaching the pies, there's no one I trust more. What could possibly go wrong?
Learning about his life and football achievements was hugely enjoyable and insightful. I honestly had no idea about what Bucks had been like before coaching collingwood, due to the fact that I didn't care about football till chris tarrant and then, to a bigger extent, Dale Thomas.
Before reading this book, the only thing I knew about Bucks was that he was a great footballer and that he comforted my beloved Daisy after the 2007 prelim loss even though Bucks was hurting himself.
I have the utmost faith in Nathan Buckley coaching the pies, there's no one I trust more. What could possibly go wrong?
August 6, 2021
A very well researched and thorough book which is also indexed, which I always like. It is a very honest account of Buckley's life and he tells the reader far more then you would normally expect in these types of sporting biographies. I was fascinated by his relationship with is father, who appears to have been one of "those" sporting fathers, yet Buckley doesn't hold any angst towards him. I would be interested in how Buckley treats his son now. Very well written.
March 13, 2022
Comprehensive bio of Buckley's playing career. Career reached great heights but without a Flag (neither as a Coach so far sadly either). Seems he had a complex identity with the public that may not entirely accurate. Interesting read though quite workmanlike in places.
August 29, 2017
Wasn't a fan of FIGJAM Buckley until I read this book and I found a new level of respect for him I could never have imagined beforehand.
September 2, 2013
I read this a few months ago and it was very good. Buckley doesn't complain about anything. He seems to just get on with the job when life tests him out. I wish I could be the same. But I can't. Some people are intelligent and mentally tough, and some find it hard to cope with life.
The best part of the book I thought was when he talks about the last twelve months of his career and how the hamstring injury was giving him hell. And Malthouse told him he should retire. Malthouse wasn't trying to be nasty. He just thought it would be best to go out with something "still left in the tank."
Another good bit was when his father, who was a Vietnam Vet, wrote him a letter once. He told his son to stop taking the easy way out of situations all the time. That is it a bad habit. And once you have that habit, it becomes like a disease. And it tough to get rid of, and could cost you everything. This was after Nathan quit one of his university or TAFE courses.
He had tremendous respect for Robert Walls, who showed him the less glamorous side of footy. His philosophy was "Do the common things uncommonly well." This was at Brisbane when they were known as the Brisbane Bears. Not many of the players there bothered to talk to Buckley because he had already made it clear that he was going to Collingwood the next year.
Overall, I would give this book ten out of ten. And I have never rated a book that highly before.
The best part of the book I thought was when he talks about the last twelve months of his career and how the hamstring injury was giving him hell. And Malthouse told him he should retire. Malthouse wasn't trying to be nasty. He just thought it would be best to go out with something "still left in the tank."
Another good bit was when his father, who was a Vietnam Vet, wrote him a letter once. He told his son to stop taking the easy way out of situations all the time. That is it a bad habit. And once you have that habit, it becomes like a disease. And it tough to get rid of, and could cost you everything. This was after Nathan quit one of his university or TAFE courses.
He had tremendous respect for Robert Walls, who showed him the less glamorous side of footy. His philosophy was "Do the common things uncommonly well." This was at Brisbane when they were known as the Brisbane Bears. Not many of the players there bothered to talk to Buckley because he had already made it clear that he was going to Collingwood the next year.
Overall, I would give this book ten out of ten. And I have never rated a book that highly before.
May 28, 2010
Nathan Buckley is an inspirational man and if you want to find meaning in life you should read this book. This man has gone through challenges in life that people could not fathom, I know I can relate to a few of these challenges, but I could never see myself or anyone else for that matter being able to do what this man has done. This auto biography is a brilliant book on the life of a man that knows what is like to face his fears and challenge himself beyond reason. THe emotion that he pours into the pages is amazing, for a man that played such a challenging game, to then pour his heart out for us to read is truly amazing and inspirational. Everyone should read this wonderful book that shows us how this champion became what he was. Nathan Buckley truly knows how to make you emotional and the amount of work that he puts into everything is amazing, read this book for it could change your life.
November 24, 2011
All I Can Be is a very good book, it is one of the best books I have Ever Read. Nathan Buckley is one of my favorite football players and he played for my favorite football club, Collingwood.
Read
August 28, 2015Did not read it all but really enjoyed the first 100 pages or so - the early years. Other books tempted so left at that!
May 21, 2016
Inspiring
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews