CAITLIN BASSETT: Jack Buckley’s tough choice of heading to Paris Olympic Games to see Celeste Mucci compete

What is more important, football or love?

It is accepted that players might choose to miss a game for a birth or death but the list of reasons for a leave of absence is now becoming long and varied.

In a sign of the changing times AFL clubs have shown an increased flexibility and understanding for players missing games due to personal reasons this season.

Melbourne wingman Ed Langdon was afforded a leave pass for the Demon’s upset loss to West Coast to attend his sister’s wedding in London.

Geelong youngster Oisin Mullin was granted a week’s leave to jet to Italy for his sister’s wedding and Collingwood premiership player Oleg Markov skipped his side’s clash with Fremantle to be a groomsman for his brother-in-law’s wedding.

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said he would not have missed games for weddings, but conceded it “is a new world now” as clubs navigate the balance between footy and family.

Work-life balance is an interesting concept in an industry that is driven by results.

Magpies coach Craig McRae encourages a family-first mentality for his players and staff and believes that the support will be returned in kind.

“But I and we at Collingwood want to win at all levels, so we have better husbands, better fathers, so Oleg becomes a better brother for his brother-in-law, whatever it looks like,” he said.

“There’s always a line — performance versus family — I get that. But when there is an easy choice, we’re choosing family.”

Greater Western Sydney defender Jack Buckley would argue there’s no such thing as an easy choice as he weighs up the pros and cons of travelling to Paris to watch his girlfriend Celeste Mucci compete at the Olympics.

The Giants currently sit seventh on the ladder on equal points with Melbourne and Port Adelaide with his decision having the potential to affect their finals hopes.

Buckley is keen to fly to France to watch his partner in the heats for the 110m hurdles on August 7, however the final (if she makes it) on August 10 clashes with the Giants’ game against Brisbane at the Gabba.

In theory, Buckley could jet off straight after his side’s round 21 match, watch Mucci’s heat and return straight after to make the game against the Lions but that is a serious amount of travel to be doing between two games.

But also imagine not being able to support your partner in the biggest event of her career.

Whatever decision he makes he will be letting someone down, so does he support his partner or leave his team in the lurch?

Football is a job which players are paid (very well) to do, but unlike a normal job athletes do not have the flexibility of taking annual leave when it suits them.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin believes players that are “happy and content” play better football and that happiness was a factor all clubs were chasing in their group.

I couldn’t agree with this more. If you have a player that feels they are supported, they will go into battle for you.

Long-term coaches like Adam Simpson built respect with their players over a long period of time. It means when the big moments arrive, there is trust on both sides.

Legendary Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews famously warned his playing group not to have unprotected sex in January after forward Daniel Bradshaw didn’t play in the 2000 semifinal against Carlton due to the birth of his first child.

Matthews was supportive of the decision but his side suffered a season-ending 82-point thrashing by the Blues.

The following pre-season Matthews made it clear he didn’t want any player in the future to suffer a similar dilemma to Bradshaw, telling his players to time their conception efforts accordingly.

The Lions went on to win the next three premierships so maybe forgoing love does have its rewards and personal sacrifice creates a lasting team legacy.