The pair lived with each other only 10 minutes from Victoria Park in North Balwyn in 1994 - Buckley's first year at Collingwood and Sanderson's one and only.
Sanderson only played four matches for the Magpies in the No. 17, but developed a strong friendship with Buckley in their first foray into football-mad Melbourne.
“He’d come across from Adelaide where he’d play a couple of games. It was my first time ‘batching’ and his first time out of Adelaide,” Buckley told collingwoodfc.com.au in February 2012.
“It was a bit of a wake up for both of us but they were the glory days when you’re first making your way in the AFL and we were trying to push each other as much as we could. They’re good memories.
“It was only the one year, but you never forget your first exposure to Melbourne culture and how knackered you are from all the training and how much you lean on the blokes that you’re closest to around the place, not only at the club but away. Just to make sure you’re pushing each other along.”
Buckley fondly recalls a pre-season match in 1994 when Sanderson, then playing as a forward, frittered away several opportunities in front of goal that may have ultimately cost him further senior appearances.
“I remember him kicking three points in a Fosters Cup game. They were playing him as a forward. I remember Leigh Matthews saying at the time that if you don’t take your opportunities as a forward then you’re going to miss your chance.
“I don’t know if he said it before or after Sando’s game but Sando had three chances and he kicked three points. You know that if he kicked three goals then he probably would have stayed in the side and that was leading into round one. He was pretty flat on that.”
A mere twelve months later, Sanderson had been moulded into a defender by Geelong coach Gary Ayres and was a regular in a team destined to face Carlton in the 1995 Grand Final.
“We played against each other quite a few times after that. The history’s always good to have, there are always a few smirks,” Buckley grinned.
“We actually played on each other a couple of times and we’ve always been close in many ways.”
Despite only spending the one-year together, the bonds between pair, who were both recruited from South Australia, remain as tight as ever.
“We only lived here for one year and then in many ways we sort of drifted in and out of each others lives but he was one of those guys that whenever you catch up you’ve always got a really strong bond.
“He’s Jett’s (Buckley's son) godfather along with another mate of ours Chris Dance, the three of us are thick as thieves. We’ve been pretty well best mates in recent years and catch up whenever we can.”
Back row: Damien Franken, Jon Ballantyne, Glenn Sandford, Justin Malon, Michael Christian, Damian Monkhorst, Saverio Rocca, Jason McCartney, Seamus Malloney, Aaron James, Gavin Crosisca, Gary Pert.
Third row: Damien Houlihan, Shane Watson, Mark Fraser, Todd Curley, Michael McGuane, Craig Kelly, Nathan Buckley, Tony Woods, Glen Coghlan, Trent Hotten, Stephen Ryan, Andrew Tranquilli, Jason Wild.
Second Row: Stuart Steele, Paul Williams, Graham Wright, Bradley Plain, Leigh Matthews (coach), Gavin Brown (captain), Stan Magro (assistant coach), Alan Richardson, Shane Kerrison, Kent Butcher, Chris Curran, Justin Staritski.
Front row: Darin Milner, Nathan Smart, Tony Francis, Jon Hassall, Tony Shaw, Brett James, Scott Russell, Brenton Sanderson, Paul Sharkey.
