OUTGOING Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley would make a 'fantastic' new North Melbourne CEO, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says.
Buckley resigned from the FFA on Tuesday, having run soccer's national governing body since leaving his job as Andrew Demetriou's second-in-charge at the AFL in 2006.
Reports have since linked Buckley with North's top job, which has been vacant since former chief executive Eugene Arocca resigned in June, three days after the Kangaroos' 115-point round 10 to Hawthorn at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
North chairman James Brayshaw said on Triple M on Tuesday he had approached Buckley about the CEO role in London during the Olympics and was interested to see what the "very, very capable man" would do following his resignation from the FFA.
Although Scott stressed that administrative appointments were not his domain, he said it would be a coup for the club if Buckley, a former Roos vice-captain who played 74 games from 1986-93, joined the club.
"Anyone who speaks of Ben Buckley speaks of him with the highest regard, so I think anyone of that calibre would be fantastic for our club," Scott said at Aegis Park on Thursday.
"I think it's just terrific that our club is being spoken of in glowing terms and that even people the calibre of Ben Buckley are being linked with our club."
Scott said reports linking Buckley with North were reflective of the recent upswing in the club's public perception.
The Roos were widely seen to have hit a low ebb on and off the field after the dual blow of the thrashing by Hawthorn and Arocca's exit.
But the Roos have since turned around their on-field fortunes in stunning fashion, winning nine of their past 10 games to be on the verge of playing their first finals series since 2008.
"It's terrific that the club's getting some exposure on a positive front and it is an exciting time for us," Scott said.
"But as players and coaches we've got to keep focusing on the facts, it's no different to 12 weeks ago for us.
"But for our fans and supporters and sponsors [the positive exposure has been] outstanding and it's what we've craved for a long time."
This Sunday, sixth-placed North takes on eighth-placed Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, with a win likely to secure it a home qualifying final.
North announced on Wednesday star midfielder Daniel Wells was a chance to return against Freo from the slight calf strain he suffered in round 20 against Essendon.
Scott reiterated Wells would be given every chance to play but said he would not be risked if there was any doubt about his fitness.
Scott said Fremantle had been playing "top-four" standard football in the second half of this season and would be the perfect test for his team on the eve of the finals.
"We think it's going to be a finals-like atmosphere in terms of pressure around the ball," Scott said of Sunday's game.
"If we do play finals and we're playing against really good sides then there's no better preparation than playing Fremantle, because I think they're pressuring the opposition as well as anyone at the moment."
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick
