The AFL's most pursued coach-in-waiting, Nathan Buckley, is confident his decision to meet with Richmond will not affect his prospects with other clubs.

The saga of which club Buckley will coach with has dragged on for weeks with Richmond, North Melbourne and Collingwood in focus.

North Melbourne has offered Buckley the senior job at Arden Street, where he would take over from stand-in Darren Crocker, who was called up when Dean Laidley left Kangaroos mid-season.

Buckley will meet the Richmond hierarchy next week to discuss the coaching position.

The Tigers also have a caretaker role, with Jade Rawlings appointed when Terry Wallace left recently.

Buckley said he did not believe his decision to meet with Richmond would adversely affect his hopes at another club.

"I hope not - North knows where I stand," he told Fairfax Radio.

Buckley has also been linked to a possible assistant job under his old coach Mick Malthouse at Collingwood but has all but ruled out waiting for the new Gold Coast team to join the competition.

"That's another 12 months away and there's probably a few decisions that need to be made before that becomes an option," Buckley said.

Buckley and Malthouse met this week, a move orchestrated by the club and he said the pair would have no problems working together.

"I've been interested with the discussion about our supposed frosty relationship and it's never been as bad as people suggest," Buckley said.

"I was his captain for eight years."

Malthouse is working hard to make sure the talk does not distract his players from their task - and it certainly didn't on Friday night as the Magpies belted Carlton by 54 points.

But he admits the speculation is "wearing thin" on some people.

Malthouse is yet to be re-signed for 2010.

"I think things can be done when they need to be done," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP