News Bombers made play for Cloke

[Just Kick It]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/e...ure-travis-cloke/story-e6frf9if-1225942973305

TRAVIS Cloke rejected a multi-million-dollar, four-year Essendon deal to stay a Magpie.

The Herald Sun can reveal the cashed-up Bombers tried to convince then out-of-contract Cloke to sit out until the pre-season draft, where they hoped to secure him with their first pick, No. 4.

Cloke signed with the Magpies 48 hours after Essendon made its audacious grab for the talented forward at the end of trade week.

Cloke's father and manager David threatened on the last day of trading to put him into the draft. It is believed the Bombers had a plan to get Cloke: by not trading Bachar Houli they would force Richmond to use its pre-season draft pick, thus elevating Essendon up the pecking order.

Gold Coast, West Coast and Richmond have the three picks before the Bombers.



The Suns are understood to be keen to add another youngster to their group, West Coast's move is not categorically known and Richmond will take Houli with the No. 3 pick.

After Cloke Sr's stunning revelation in a radio interview, the hopeful Bombers mounted a hasty, smash-and-grab foray on the Collingwood forward.

Cloke Sr said at the time: "All I said today was, if it can't come to an agreement, the option he has got is to go into the national draft; that if you can't come to terms with Collingwood, his next option is then to go into the draft."

The Bombers then circled.

Essendon recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro contacted Cloke Sr after the radio interview, a move ratified by new coach James Hird, and requested talks.

It's believed the four-year deal roughly centred on a figure of about $500,000 a year for Cloke, 23.

Cloke re-signed with Collingwood for two years - and less money than Essendon offered. The cash difference was not seen as enough for Cloke to change clubs.

In Bali with teammates, Cloke was told of Essendon's offer, with a list of pros and cons about staying or leaving.

In Collingwood's favour was that he was a premiership player with a strong opportunity to play in more premierships, his strong family connection with the club and his relationship with coach Mick Malthouse and teammates.

It's not known who Essendon is aiming to take in the pre-season draft, though it appears the club - which worked aggressively to reshape its coaching department, headed by Hird - will be just as aggressive in pursuit of any out-of-contract player.

It was reported the Bombers tried to convince former Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs to enter the pre-season draft before he was traded to Adelaide.

Cloke Sr refused to comment yesterday. Dodoro was unavailable for comment.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/e...ure-travis-cloke/story-e6frf9if-1225942973305

I'm not surprised that any club tried to convince him to leave after Cloke Seniors comments, I'm just glad that he did the smart thing and stayed.

 

[jonesy86]

When was the last time the bombers landed a 'big fish'?

 

[Ed D]

Sounds like a beat up story. David Clokes comment was a throw away line and Travis never mentioned leaving the club and never appaered to.

In saying that, with recruiting ideas like that it's no wonder Essendon failed to get any deals done during trade week. Sounds like they were just trying to push players to the PSD and not giving away any picks. And did Esseondon seriously think Richmond would take Houli over Cloke if given an option?

 

[LukeBallsGirl]

They only want him because he smashes them every time we play them.

 

[jerry springer]

its all good, they still have Mark Williams

 

[PieBeast]

When was the last time the bombers landed a 'big fish'?

1983 when they drafted Paul Salmon.

 

[FredNerk69]

its all good, they still have Mark Williams

Don't forget Neagle as well. Great father son choice

 

[Quicky]

Just a case of a club trying to get their hands of the best available talent (plus the media taking notice because it'll create some interest).

You'd be disappointed if your club didn't at the very least try.

If Essendon with their spine were after him you'd think a few others were too.

Pears and Hurley in defense with Cloke and Gumby in the forwards would be appealing.

As an aside I was chatting with my little bro - a bummers supporter (shudder) - and he said he'd be dissapointed if they drafted Cloke because of his inaccuracy (something he feels they don't need more of). He's usually so spot on LOL!!

 

[Ant85]

I think it's a case of James Hird looking at his list, and going

They're clearly desperate.

 

[eddiesmith]

I remember it being mentioned when so many others claimed no club could afford him that Essendon would be no1 on the list looking for his services

Although that story is lacking the usual highly inflated numbers used in similar stories

 

[Al Scorcho]

i call BS

that or essendon are stupid

as previously stated, richmond would have been happy to take cloke before houli. plus if they knew cloke was entering the draft, they would only have had to pass on two draft picks to use two preseason picks and get them both regardless

furthermore, both gold coast and west coast would have wanted and been able to afford cloke at that price.

GC would love a strong key forward rather than a kid as the article suggests (um they are already getting a truckload of top 20 picks, they don't need a kid in the preseason draft)

and the eagles could have had kennedy and cloke working in a similar fashion to dawes/cloke, which would would be very handy for them! as well as allow lecras more midfield opportunity

this would just not have happened for the dons

 

[mattys123]

Haha, the Bummers.

Ah, the bummers, will be fun to grind them into the ground this year, twice.

 

[THE_GUN]

Sounds like a beat up story. David Clokes comment was a throw away line and Travis never mentioned leaving the club and never appaered to.

In saying that, with recruiting ideas like that it's no wonder Essendon failed to get any deals done during trade week. Sounds like they were just trying to push players to the PSD and not giving away any picks. And did Esseondon seriously think Richmond would take Houli over Cloke if given an option?

If this article is true it really shows what a bunch of amateurs this rabble really are.

Did they really believe that.
1. $500k would be enough to wrench cloke away from collingwood, realistically travis would be on between $420k-$450k at the pies thats $50k-$80k diffrence & after tax only half that

2. Expect richmond to pass up the Jack Riewoldt/Travis Cloke partnership for bachar houli !

Richmond would of just sent houli to the november draft & would of easily taken him with 46 or 50 similar to ball/collingwood situation & taken cloke with the psd.

For their plan to of worked the offer to cloke should of been something like
1st year..........$800k
2nd year.........$700k
3rd year..........$600k
4th year..........$600k

you cant move players unless its an extremely good offer, then the funniest part is to have another go at Jacobs lol , looks like they were trying to get bargain basement buys

 

[nickh32]

2 things:

1. I would be dissapointed if essendon wernt looking at the best available talent.

2. Its written by Mark Robinson who is one the worst writers going around. 95% of the hun writers are pathetic and you cant trust what any of them say.

 

[Football God]

When was the last time the bombers landed a 'big fish'?

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Gotta admit, had it been a better side offering the contract, he probably would have gone. Lucky it was Essendon.

Had a young 'up and comer' like a Melbourne or Richmond offered the money and contract, I think he might have gone.

Especially Richmond. Cloke would be a perfect foil for Reiwoldt.

 

[chefmeister]

1983 when they drafted Paul Salmon.

Seems as the humor in this post was lost on most...

 

[jonbe54]

Seems as the humor in this post was lost on most...

NAH It was just a red herring

 

[Zahki]

Had a young 'up and comer' like a Melbourne or Richmond offered the money and contract, I think he might have gone.

Especially Richmond. Cloke would be a perfect foil for Reiwoldt.

Bullshit. Travis never had any intention of leaving Collingwood, he loves the club too much.

 

[HFF]

This is why Essendon have no idea how to tempt a player and land a big fish.

Their offer to Cloke was 500k per season. He would be earning at least 450k from us, minimum.

Why would a premiership CHF with the chance of sustained success leave his club of which he has strong relationships with friends and coaches for a mesely extra 50k, particularly to join a bottom 4 team on the rebuild with a shite list?

If the Bombers were serious, they would have put an offer somewhere at a minimum of 600k per season.

Also, I love it how nobody is screaming "draft tampering", not for their pursuit of Cloke but rather their unwillingness to deal on Houli, period, and deliberately send him into the PSD so they could potentially take Cloke.

Rank amateurs they are.

 

[Pie eyed]

This is why Essendon have no idea how to tempt a player and land a big fish.

Their offer to Cloke was 500k per season. He would be earning at least 450k from us, minimum.

Why would a premiership CHF with the chance of sustained success leave his club of which he has strong relationships with friends and coaches for a mesely extra 50k, particularly to join a bottom 4 team on the rebuild with a shite list?

If the Bombers were serious, they would have put an offer somewhere at a minimum of 600k per season.

Also, I love it how nobody is screaming "draft tampering", not for their pursuit of Cloke but rather their unwillingness to deal on Houli, period, and deliberately send him into the PSD so they could potentially take Cloke.

Rank amateurs they are.

To be fair the facts of the matter ar probably this.
David Cloke made a comment when asked what Travis would do if he could not come to terms with Collingwood.
The media invented a scenario around these comments and as usual printed it.
Essendon have read the comments and made enquiries with D. Cloke.

No-one knows what Collingwood offered Travis, what incentives were offered or what the final contract consists of.
Needless to say it was enough to satisfy both Cloke's and the Club as it's a done deal.
I very mush doubt that the HUN reprter knows either the details of Cloke's Collingwood contract or of the alleged offer from Esendon.
All he knows is that an enquiry was made and that the rest is speculation based on what he thinks Cloke is getting in his new contract and what he imagines Essendon would have to offer to top it.

It's off season and the smallest sniff of a story is getting plenty of coverage as evidenced by the "international incident" between Mumford and Jordan Lewis, a story which has as much "legs" as a snake.

 

[daics_35]

What a terrible lazy trading team, why wouldnt they trade for him if they wanted him, why tell him to nominate for the pre season draft. LOL and to think that Richmond will pick up Houli ahead of Cloke is a joke. They are probs making a play for Jack Anthony now.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

When was the last time the bombers landed a 'big fish'?

Edit: Beaten to it

 

[TradeDraft]

Gotta admit, had it been a better side offering the contract, he probably would have gone. Lucky it was Essendon.

Had a young 'up and comer' like a Melbourne or Richmond offered the money and contract, I think he might have gone.

Especially Richmond. Cloke would be a perfect foil for Reiwoldt.

I heard Richmond did try and he still knocked them back

 

[yeee_haaaa!!!!!]

the funniest part about ess trying to land cloke is the fact that their fans are always banging on about what an array of young KPP they have, yet here they are trying to poach a KPF from another club??