COLLINGWOOD rising star Tom Phillips says the “overbearing” Nathan Buckley of the past is gone, with the reappointed senior coach now much more relaxed.

Buckley was handed a two-year contract extension at the end of the season after surviving an intense football department review.

The Magpies returned to pre-season training earlier this month and Phillips says the change in Buckley’s demeanour is already obvious.

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“I can feel just walking in over the last week, he is much more relaxed and not I guess as full on and overbearing as he has been in that coaching role for the last few years,” Phillips said on SEN radio.

“He has definitely I feel taken a bit of a step back and has really started trusting and relying on the great assistant coaches we have coming in.”

While Buckley survived, the Pies have a number of new assistant coaches working with him this season.

media_camera It was a tough 2017 for Nathan Buckley. Picture: AAP Images

Experienced duo Justin Longmuir and Garry Hocking joined the club while in-demand retired Bulldog Matthew Boyd was another key signing to the coaching panel.

Nick Maxwell also returned to Collingwood while Ned Guy has taken over recruiting.

Robert Harvey and Brenton Sanderson remained at the club.

Phillips believes the new faces at the club have helped Buckley relax.

“That delegation, even if you ask Bucks himself, he is starting to realise that and is really enjoying that role of stepping back and overlooking things,” Phillips said.

“(Garry Hocking) has really planted his foot and taken over things, especially with my area of improvement and where I’m at with stoppages and the midfield stuff. Robert Harvey is helping with that and the transition stuff in the midfield. Those two guys are pretty full on with taking most of the stuff.”

Collingwood will open its 2018 campaign against Hawthorn before taking on top four teams GWS and Adelaide in the first month of the season.

After finishing 13th this year, Phillips believes consistency is the key moving forward.

“In the last few years we have played on and off games, where we have showed a little bit of what we want to stand for,” Phillips said.

“I think in the past, if you have asked the person in the crowd, what is Collingwood footy, there would be some mixed responses. There will be a dramatic sort of difference.

media_camera Tom Phillips and Nathan Buckley at Collingwood training in 2017. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“Playing to our strengths, mainly with a lot of the stoppage stuff and the midfield craft, and the talent we have inside. We need to make sure we are good at that break in play and imposing our strength and aggression on sides, and stopping other teams’ quick transition.”