MICHAEL Voss had a plan, but circumstances were such that he was unable to complete the coaching apprenticeship that he'd decided upon. He could hardly ask a jaded Leigh Matthews to hang on for another season to enable him to gain work experience at West Coast.

Nathan Buckley, too, has a plan. He intends to spend 2009 working in the media before cutting his coaching teeth as an assistant coach somewhere in 2010. Given Buckley's penchant for process and relentless self-improvement, he would prefer (a) to serve a decent apprenticeship and (b) to be an assistant at a club that will expose him to new methods and ideas — ie, not Collingwood.

In 12 months, Buckley could find himself grappling with the Voss scenario, with a club, or clubs, asking him whether he's prepared to junk his best-laid plan, and jump straight into those treacherous coaching waters without the life jacket of an apprenticeship.

We're assuming that Bucks wants to coach, because it's not as though he's floundering in the media.

At this moment, following his telling criticisms of Brendan Fevola and Eddie McGuire and his musings on the Didak-Shaw fiasco, Buckley has never had such authority within the football community; his words carry weight, and as such, the media work has actually enhanced his coaching appeal.

Buckley might have his timetable, but it's conceivable that the best opportunities could arrive at an inopportune time. He might have to consider which is more important — gaining experience in the field, or grasping a job that might not be available again.

Several clubs have coaches coming out of contract at the end of 2009. Collingwood heads the list, with Michael Malthouse contracted for what would be — in another irresistible piece of Voss-Buckley coincidence — his 10th season at Collingwood, the same term that Leigh Matthews served with the Lions (to take the comparison further, Matthews and Malthouse coached for 10 years at their previous clubs, too).

It is unclear whether the Magpies would be willing to punt on Bucks, and, considering Buckley's desire to broaden his outlook and knowledge, whether he'd want to jump straight into the black and white saddle. Nonetheless, if Malthouse departs, there will be an immense temptation for both parties to get together.

But Collingwood is far from the only possibility. Terry Wallace, Mark Williams, Paul Roos and Ross Lyon are among the coaches whose contracts expire at the end of 2009. Mark Harvey has a contract for 2010, but may not survive another sub-par season. Dean Bailey would want to show significant improvement (though a priority pick would help the Demons more in the long term), despite his contract.

Roos might soon sign on beyond 2009. Or he might not. Wallace will need results. Lyon is in better shape now that the Saints have made top four, and who has a clue what will happen at Port Adelaide, which is in what might be euphemistically called a state of transition.

You get the drift. There could be a number of senior coaching jobs up for grabs. One or more of those clubs will deem Buckley excellent raw coaching material and consider giving him the job, straight-up — as Carlton and then Brisbane did with Voss.

Nathan Buckley is a man of considerable ambition and self-belief. But he's also one who places a gigantic premium on rigorous preparation and research.

The confident and ambitious Buckley could be sorely tempted by offer of a senior coaching position. The rigorous, process-driven man will want to serve at least a cursory apprenticeship before taking the leap of faith.

Which side will hold sway? Perhaps it depends it what is being offered by whom.