Buckland was recruited by Port Adelaide with pick 18 in the 2010 Rookie Draft. A defender, he spent two seasons on the club's list. He made his senior AFL debut in Round 19 of the 2011 season against the Western Bulldogs, playing two games in total during his career. He was delisted by Port Adelaide at the end of the 2012 season.
Following his AFL career, Buckland continued to play Australian rules football at state league level in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). He notably played for the Port Adelaide Magpies (Port Adelaide's SANFL team) and later for the South Adelaide Football Club.