Collingwood is never far from the headlines.

As any decent news editor knows, if you can get the Magpies onto the front or back page, on the TV or as a lead online item, you'll get readers and viewers.

That results in a lot of Collingwood stories being overhyped. But there's also no denying that we've been involved in plenty of genuinely massive news stories down the years – from sackings, injuries and board coups to player revolts and internal squabbling.

So, to help mark Collingwood's 125^th anniversary season, we're counting down the 25 biggest, most explosive news stories in Magpie history, as judged by historian Michael Roberts and the Herald Sun's Glenn McFarlane.

We've ignored Premierships and on-field results, and have instead concentrated on the other elements that have so often seen our club making headlines. It's a fascinating way to look back at our often colourful history.

Each of these stories will be published by Collingwood Media on #125Wednesdays, as part of our mid-week celebration of Collingwood's 125th Anniversary.

No. 22
Buckley arrives at Collingwood
By Glenn McFarlane of the Herald Sun

It was one of Collingwood's most audacious recruiting coups, and it still resonates more than two decades on.

But as fruitful as the endeavour was, it didn't come without its share of angst and aggravation, even if the deal would prove to be a bargain which helped define the modern history of the Collingwood Football Club.

Nathan Buckley had been a star of Port Adelaide in the SANFL, but from an AFL sense he tied to the lowly Brisbane Bears - a club he didn't want to play for.

As it transpired, Buckley agreed to play with the Bears for one season, in 1993, on the proviso he could transfer to another club when his year was up. What complicated the matter was how good the 20-year-old was in his one and only season in Brisbane. He played 20 games, polled 14 Brownlow Medal votes, won the AFL's inaugural Rising Star award and was stiff not to win the Bears' best and fairest that season.

Collingwood had coveted the fiercely-driven, sublimely-skilled youngster since his early days at Port Adelaide. Buckley, too, wanted to play for the Magpies, in the football cauldron that was Melbourne, with a club capable of producing massive crowds on a weekly basis, as well as potentially winning a flag. The Bears looked a million miles off being a successful team at that stage, often known as the 'Bad News Bears'.

However, the Magpies knew it had to somehow find a way to secure Buckley, who was considered one of the most exciting young talents in Australia.

To get a feel for what his debut season with the Bears was like, think Chris Judd's blistering first year with West Coast - only better. Judd's season average in 2002 was 16 touches per game; Buckley's was almost 23.

Years later, Buckley would explain his predicament: "Once the season was over, I found I was still pretty keen to get to Melbourne - it's the mecca of football, after all. And the opportunity existed to go to Collingwood, which was still my first choice." He called his manager Geof Motley to tell him he wanted to play with the Magpies. Motley knew that, and said: "He was torn two ways - loyalty against ambition. Basically, the ambition won out."

The challenge of getting the trade done was the hard part, even if Magpies football manager at the time Graeme Allan knew it could be done.

Collingwood had to compile a list of 10 "untouchables" who were considered off limits to the Bears in any trade. The names were never revealed publicly but were said to be Gavin Brown, Tony Francis, Damian Monkhorst, Mick McGuane, Scott Russell, Graham Wright, Saverio Rocca, Shane Watson, Paul Williams and Jason McCartney.

Nathan Buckley and Joe Misiti go toe-to-toe at a boundary throw in during his year with the Brisbane Bears.

It was assumed Tony Shaw, Peter Daicos and Gary Pert would not fit the Bears' long-term plans due to their age, though it was known the Queensland-based club had more than a passing interest in Pert.

Premiership players Craig Kelly, Gavin Crosisca (originally from Queensland) and Craig Starcevich were touted as trade options, as well as Mark Fraser, Troy Lehmann, Kent Butcher and Damian Houlihan.

The trade stalled for a period. There was even a threat of a legal challenge.

Starcevich and Lehmann were the favoured ones to move. Starcevich was initially reluctant, but came to see that the move could prolong his AFL career. Lehmann was opposed to it, too, and stood firm with his reluctance for a period, before finally agreeing to switch clubs. The deal was finally done, even if caused friction with some members of the team - at least for a period.

In the end, the trade went through before the 2pm deadline, with Starcevich and Lehmann agreeing to move, as well as the Magpies giving the Bears their first selection in the draft.

Tellingly, the Bears used that draft pick on a Victorian kid called Chris Scott.

Collingwood fans couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces at gaining access to the best young player in the country. Buckley was just as pleased to get what he had wished for.

"It's just where I want to be," he said. "I believe I gave Brisbane a good year of service and now I want to stick my head down and do the same for Collingwood."

"I'll have to work doubly hard to repay them for what they've done because they've put a lot of work into getting me. First and foremost, I'm a footballer. Now I'm in control and it's up to me what happens.

"I'm hungry to win games and I'm hungry to play in finals. I eat, sleep and breathe the game. Brisbane is a rugby city and you don't realise how much until you live here.

"Melbourne is the only place to be if you want to experience real football culture."

The Herald Sun’s Mike Sheahan would forecast: "Buckley will be good ... Anyone who has seen him play for more than 10 minutes knows he has class. Anyone who has seen and heard him apply himself to his football task knows his attitude is exemplary."

We knew he was good, even very good. But in time, spread out across 260 games across 14 seasons, Buckley would almost every award imaginable, other than a premiership medal.

Nathan Buckley kicked 22 goals in 23 games during his first season at Collingwood in 1994.

The footballer the Magpies chased so aggressively would become one of club's greatest all-time players. Six Copeland Trophies, a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal, but sadly not the one piece of silverware he wanted. Collingwood came agonisingly close in 2002, and again in 2003, against – of all teams – Brisbane, the club that merged with Fitzroy in late 1996 to become the Lions.

Buckley’s football was of the highest quality from the outset. And he would expend as much blood, sweat and tears than any modern Magpie in chasing the ultimate success that sadly didn’t come his way as a player.

Yet whatever initial aggravation came from the trade, or from Buckley's early exuberance that got a few of his new teammates offside in his first few years, it would all be overshadowed by how good this AFL Hall of Famer would prove to the team – and to the club.