#32 Travis Cloke

[ANNODAM]

Now that Taz has announced his retirement, we have some free ca$h for Travis.

[Trezegol]

Now that Taz has announced his retirement, we have some free ca$h for Travis.

Taz is getting no more than a first year player. It won't free up that much.

[ANNODAM]

^ Every bit helps...

[AN_Inkling]

Damian Barrett actually making some sense on the "Cloke Drama": all parties deserve a share of the blame for overblowing a non-issue (though I'd add Collingwood supporters to the list - media too, but they're just doing their job) and Cloke's form not disastrous as some want to claim. Read more here:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

This did not need to be the big issue it became. Other clubs have dealt with similar contract negotiations in a far quieter and more professional manner (eg. Tippett, Goddard).

[BBHS]

It won't free up anything as another player still has to come onto the list and get paid

[John Wren]

Damian Barrett actually making some sense on the "Cloke Drama": all parties deserve a share of the blame for overblowing a non-issue (though I'd add Collingwood supporters to the list - media too, but they're just doing their job) and Cloke's form not disastrous as some want to claim. Read more here:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

This did not need to be the big issue it became. Other clubs have dealt with similar contract negotiations in a far quieter and more professional manner (eg. Tippett, Goddard).

of course not. it was always going to be the case because this is collingwood we're dealing with. nothing ever happens quietly.

the more and more i think about it the more i am convinced he will stay. just because travis et al have not done things how many would like to have done them it does not mean his actions necessarily equate to him leaving.

[AN_Inkling]

^^Adelaide are massive in Adelaide, and yet they've not allowed the Tippett situation to get quite as out of hand. We could have handled it better.

[Trezegol]

^^Adelaide are massive in Adelaide, and yet they've not allowed the Tippett situation to get quite as out of hand. We could have handled it better.

BIG,BIG difference there. I'm pretty sure Tippet's old man is not one David Cloke. There is no way that anyone can suggest that the Pies have inflamed the situation.

If Cloke had been playing for Adelaide and Tippet for Collingwood, do you honestly think that it would not be Adelaide who would now be in the firing line?

How many times have Bucks and Walshy said that they expect Cloke to be at the pies next year?

[nomadjack]

There is no way that anyone can suggest that the Pies have inflamed the situation.

Sorry, but that is simply not true. On 2 or 3 occasions Bucks has made subtle references similar to what Walsh said about Beams 'wanting to be at Collingwood' that have inflamed the situation when it was not necessary. These gentle prods are probably out of genuine and legitimate frustration but they have pushed the perception there is a gulf between player and club which has fed the media's interest and kept the issue front page. Bucks, Eddie, Walsh and everyone else at the club should have just said we are not commenting on contract negotiations and stuck to that. It's a difficult situation but the club are far from blameless in it.

[RudeBoy]

The fact is the club knows Cloke is heading elsewhere. By talking about only wanting players who want to be at Collingwood, the club is simply preparing supporters for Cloke's eventual departure. It's not about pressuring Demir or Travis Cloke. He's gonski. It's about sending a message to supporters and to the rest of the team.

[AN_Inkling]

There is no way that anyone can suggest that the Pies have inflamed the situation.

Sorry, but that is simply not true. On 2 or 3 occasions Bucks has made subtle references similar to what Walsh said about Beams 'wanting to be at Collingwood' that have inflamed the situation when it was not necessary. These gentle prods are probably out of genuine and legitimate frustration but they have pushed the perception there is a gulf between player and club which has fed the media's interest and kept the issue front page. Bucks, Eddie, Walsh and everyone else at the club should have just said we are not commenting on contract negotiations and stuck to that. It's a difficult situation but the club are far from blameless in it.

Correct. Also, throughout the year they treated this as some kind of tense standoff against other clubs and against the Clokes. If they'd treated it more lightly by saying, "Trav's a required player. We understand players are going to test the Free Agency waters, but we want him to stay and will do all we can to make that happen. In the interim we're not going to comment on the details of contract negotiations", it could have gone far less dramatically.

Instead the club (Eddie, Walsh, Buckley) on a number of occasions gave clear indications that they were frustrated, commented on every reported offer from a rival club, often with derision and continually fueled the media fire. It's not unusual for a manager to make some public comments when testing the waters, it's part of the process. The club's comments were less usual and did not support their player to the level you'd expect, especially when they also kept saying they expected him to stay. I'm not sure of the reasons for all of this, but from the outside, it all looked a little shambolic.

[John Wren]

There is no way that anyone can suggest that the Pies have inflamed the situation.

Sorry, but that is simply not true. On 2 or 3 occasions Bucks has made subtle references similar to what Walsh said about Beams 'wanting to be at Collingwood' that have inflamed the situation when it was not necessary. These gentle prods are probably out of genuine and legitimate frustration but they have pushed the perception there is a gulf between player and club which has fed the media's interest and kept the issue front page. Bucks, Eddie, Walsh and everyone else at the club should have just said we are not commenting on contract negotiations and stuck to that. It's a difficult situation but the club are far from blameless in it.

The fact is the club knows Cloke is heading elsewhere. By talking about only wanting players who want to be at Collingwood, the club is simply preparing supporters for Cloke's eventual departure. It's not about pressuring Demir or Travis Cloke. He's gonski. It's about send ing a message to supporters and to the rest of the team.

walsh denied the statement was aimed at cloke.

[nomadjack]

He's either being disingenuous after the event or was incredibly stupid to make it given the context. He's never struck me as stupid.

[Trezegol]

There is no way that anyone can suggest that the Pies have inflamed the situation.

Sorry, but that is simply not true. On 2 or 3 occasions Bucks has made subtle references similar to what Walsh said about Beams 'wanting to be at Collingwood' that have inflamed the situation when it was not necessary. These gentle prods are probably out of genuine and legitimate frustration but they have pushed the perception there is a gulf between player and club which has fed the media's interest and kept the issue front page. Bucks, Eddie, Walsh and everyone else at the club should have just said we are not commenting on contract negotiations and stuck to that. It's a difficult situation but the club are far from blameless in it.

Correct. Also, throughout the year they treated this as some kind of tense standoff against other clubs and against the Clokes. If they'd treated it more lightly by saying, "Trav's a required player. We understand players are going to test the Free Agency waters, but we want him to stay and will do all we can to make that happen. In the interim we're not going to comment on the details of contract negotiations", it could have gone far less dramatically.

Instead the club (Eddie, Walsh, Buckley) on a number of occasions gave clear indications that they were frustrated, commented on every reported offer from a rival club, often with derision and continually fueled the media fire. It's not unusual for a manager to make some public comments when testing the waters, it's part of the process. The club's comments were less usual and did not support their player to the level you'd expect, especially when they also kept saying they expected him to stay. I'm not sure of the reasons for all of this, but from the outside, it all looked a little shambolic.

I only just heard Geoff Walsh on SEN yesterday state that Travis is a required player and that they expect him to be at the club next year.

Bucks has been asked about Travis Cloke all year round. He has to say something doesn't he? He is not initiating the conversation, simply responding to questions. Many have said that they have found Buckley to be a breath of fresh air in terms on the honesty in which he has answered questions. Why would this be any different?

At the end of the day, the club is extremely frustrated by both Cloke and his managers because on two separate occasions they indicated that they were close to signing, only to then come back and say that they wanted something else. Where does the club go from here? Does it continue to say yes? The club has been placed in a no win situation.

Why haven't we heard anything other than 1 or 2 articles about Ben Reid's and Dayne Beam's negotiations? I'm mean Reid is yet to put on paper, yet I don't see it effecting him nor the club.

[nomadjack]

Not suggesting that Cloke and his management are innocent in any of this. I think their side has handled things incredibly poorly. But let's not guild the lily about how the club has handled things. Bucks doesn't have to say anything except 'I'm not discussing player contracts'. I think he's a fantastic coach, but quite frankly I don't care how 'refreshing' his honesty is, if it escalates the level of angst and media attention and by doing so, makes signing players more difficult. I don't agree with all elements of the Barrett and Ralph articles but there is plenty enough in both to suggest that the club has not handled things as well as it could have.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/collin ... 6420031832

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert- ... 6422828386