Gary Buckenara

Gary Buckenara
Personal information
Date of birth	(1958-07-03) 3 July 1958
Original team(s)	Subiaco (WAFL)
Height/Weight	184cm / 83kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1979 – 1981 1982 – 1990	Subiaco Hawthorn	61 154 (293)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
	Western Australia	? ?
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1992 – 1993	Sydney Swans	25 (3-21-1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1990 season.
Career highlights
Hawthorn premiership side 1983, 1986, 1988–1989 Hawthorn Team of the Century Simpson Medallist 1981 (WA v SA)

Gary Buckenara (born 3 July 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Buckenara first played senior football for Subiaco in the West Australian Football League from 1979 to 1981. Subiaco agreed to lease him for three years for $210,000 and after a court case began his career at Hawthorn. His kicking was highly regarded by his teammates and his reputation in football was assured when he kicked a goal after the siren in the 1987 Preliminary Final to defeat Melbourne.

During his time at Hawthorn, Buckenara played 154 games, usually playing in the centre or at half-forward when he had problems with his knees. He kicked 293 goals, won four premierships and played in one losing Grand Final team. He played for his state regularly from 1979 onwards and was selected as the Western Australian captain. In 1983, 85 and 86, he was named in the All Australian Team. His career ended early due to knee injuries, and he moved into coaching. He was appointed senior coach of the Sydney Swans in 1992 but was sacked in the middle of the 1993 season, after eighteen straight losses. He returned to his original club Subiaco to coach in 1995 and 1996 and is now one of the staff at Hawthorn. In 2003, he was named in the Hawthorn Team of the Century.

See also

• After the siren kicks in Australian rules football

References

Awards
Preceded by Gary Ablett	AFL Mark of the Year 1986	Succeeded by Warwick Capper
Preceded by Col Kinnear	Sydney Swans coach 1992–1993	Succeeded by Brett Scott