Is Travis Cloke going to GWS?

[Blue and Gold Blood]

Just listening to him speak on the footy show. Very non-committal and basically said very similar things to what Judd and Scully have in the past. He prefers to wait until the end of season 2012 before signing a contract which to me, means he would like to see what offer GWS put on the table before making a decision on his playing future.

The other alarm bell that rang, was he made mention that he just turned 25, and he needs to start to consider what he wants to do after football. Now this sounds like he is already thinking about how extra money that Collingwood cant afford, would contribute to his life once he retires from the AFL.

As an Eagles fan, maybe im a bit of a conspiracy theorist, as im sure some Melbourne fans are too. But reading between the lines (and perhaps more importantly) on the topic of resigning with Collingwood its not what Cloke said that casts suspicions about him leaving to GWS, but what he didnt say. No mention of being a Magpie for life, 100% committed to the club and potential success beyond 2012, etc.

Its too bad Sportsbet dont have a market for this, because for mine - he's gone.

 

[A Swallow]

Had similar thoughts when I was watching tonight also.

That, and how stupid the man is.

 

[Ron The Bear]

I don't see Cloke leaving unless he has some sort of falling out with Buckley. I do see him playing Collingwood off against GWS and holding them to ransom for the best possible deal. He has form.

 

[Natho]

He isn't the brightest spark is he. He's got a premiership medal. He mentioned he's lacking in brain capacity and mentioned he is 25 and needs to set his life up after footy. GWS are throwing the back account at him so why not.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

If I had to make a call based on that interview, I'd say he's gone.

I don't know how factual the whole google thing is (someone on the Collingwood board suggested cloke put Barrett up to it), but if it wasn't staged, I'm less than convinced by clokes answer. He was fumbling around for a reason and came up with an absurd excuse. That, coupled with the fact that he denied even being approached by gws puts him on the back foot regarding the google question. Had he admitted to at least hearing about the offer/speculation, he could have said of course he'll have to consider all offers put to him, and that looking it up would be due dilligence on his part so he can weigh up any prespective offers and try to work something out with the pies.

In general he seemed to try and deflect throughout the questioning, when asked about gws, he said they hadn't approached him, when probed further by Sam that his father was approached, he went on some weird tangent about his family, pets etc. To me suggests he went onto the show unprepared, or more to the point isn't really quick witted enough to think in his feet. He tried to play a straight bat but kept stumbling when a follow up question was asked.

His answer to holding contract talks until the end of the year was also strange, he said he'd want to remain a pie, but in the same breath mentioned that he wanted to wait to the end of the year. The reason He gave was that if he was playing good enough Collingwood would want to offer a contract. Collingwood ARE offering a new contract, its not based on his performance, hes a proven commodity, with other clubs circling, its in collingwoods best interest to get a deal done. And given the circumstances they wouldnt be messing around. They know how much they can offer. It's up to cloke whether he accepts.

By no means is this an.absolute indication that he's gone. But nothing in the exchange led me to believe that he was leaning towards the pies at all. I'd be worried if I was a pies supporter. His answer to questions and overall demeanour suggested he was hiding something. That may just be his denial of receiving an offer at all, at the extreme it suggests that hes signed with gws or strongly considering.

No troll, just my impression. And if u want to write me off, have a look at my post regarding scully & ablett during their speculation.

 

[LeverPuller]

At least he hasn't staged a presser yet.

Pies fans, be worried. Cloke does have form on this, too.

 

[Fevola99]

He isn't the brightest spark is he.

If he were I don't think he would have mentioned on television that he has $10k in cash in his house.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

If he were I don't think he would have mentioned on television that he has $10k in cash in his house.

Although, being in 5's you'd probably need a Ute to make away with it

 

[yaco55]

I don't see Cloke leaving unless he has some sort of falling out with Buckley. I do see him playing Collingwood off against GWS and holding them to ransom for the best possible deal. He has form.

Doubt that CWD can pay him much more due to salary cap pressures, and Cloke isn't on a great salary

 

[themidlandmaster]

Would nail the premiership window shut if cloke left

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Of the all the proposed GWS targets he does seem the most likely to go.
And the way he wants to set up his life after footy would suggest that if GWS does offer him a juicy contract he will be gone.

 

[year of the roo]

Sounds like he said the same sorta stuff that Dale Thomas said on TFS last year.

 

[Lockyer24]

Should be easy to settle in with Swan, Pendlebury and Thomas already up there

 

[The Finger]

What will Eddie swindle to keep him from GWS with the amount there believed to be throwing out there. We've had to put up with Cloke about once a month on the Footy Show after Essendons offer and that was a third of GWS apparent offer. Maybe he will be reading Channel 9 news in 2013.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Sounds like he said the same sorta stuff that Dale Thomas said on TFS last year.

Yep. Sounded just like Dale and Dale stayed.

That doesn't necessarily mean Cloke will stay, but still, what he said can be interpreted many ways. We won't know either way till much later in the year.

If he goes, he goes. It's not like there's much we as supporters can do about it. Life goes on. Will it hurt? Yep, will it dent any chance of us being a real contender in the near future? Most likely, but in the end, we've won games and won them well without him, and who knows, maybe Jackson Paine will end up a nice replacement.

Kid looks good.

What will Eddie swindle to keep him from GWS with the amount there believed to be throwing out there. We've had to put up with Cloke about once a month on the Footy Show after Essendons offer and that was a third of GWS apparent offer. Maybe he will be reading Channel 9 news in 2013.

Luckily we have that option. What outlet do the Saints have for Goddard?

 

[WN123]

I think he might go. Dad seems to have a lot of influence and dad switched clubs mid career. Maybe it depends on whether he regrets it or not.

 

[Gone Critical]

My gut feel is that he has probably signed an agreement with GWS in the off season. Its likely they did sign a big name in that time and Hurley is now off the table. Kreuzer and Gibbs have made stronger statements about staying

Ablett, Scully, Brown, Harbrow, Ward all equivocated over their intentions and were all probably signed the off season prior to leaving (maybe not Ward). Cloke is sounding like someone hiding his intention. If his signed already he can't negotiate with Collingwood and so has to f-nudge all year and he doesn't sound good at doing that

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

What will Eddie swindle to keep him from GWS with the amount there believed to be throwing out there. We've had to put up with Cloke about once a month on the Footy Show after Essendons offer and that was a third of GWS apparent offer. Maybe he will be reading Channel 9 news in 2013.

And we've all had to put up with your cry for help post Collingwood beating your precious saints.

 

[ipswichpies]

Doubt that CWD can pay him much more due to salary cap pressures, and Cloke isn't on a great salary

Cloke when his last contract was signed was offered more money to signed with your club than what he chose to stay at Collingwood on he also wanted a 3 yr deal.

His dad threatened Trav would sign with the Suns but he did,nt although they
probably did not offer as much as GWS will,only time will tell if he goes or not
but he has had offers bigger than the Magpies to go but he never left not even to go to the Bombers.

A lot of people think Cloke senior will hold the Pies over the barrel on this but he will do what is best for Travis.

 

[La Vache]

I think the expectation that a player re-signs before his contract is finished is completely irrational and selfish by the clubs and supporters.

When you sign a contract for three years you then have that full three years to prove your worth for the next contract. If players like Cloke, Thomas, Hurley are coming into their prime and believe that they can reach another level of performance then why should they be expected to commit to a figure prematurely?

From a club's perspective why would you pressure a player into signing an extension early and then take away what is a huge source of motivation for many players, the ability to increase your earnings through improved performance in your contract's final year?

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

what you have to remember is that for us as supporters, we are all about club loyalty. If i was good enough, id honestly play for Geelong for a bag of twisties and a can of tarax creamy soda.

Cloke however has had 2 brothers jettisoned by the Pies. His dad played there and then left. Ill bet he has a MUCH more business like, cynical view of not only the Pies, but the AFL in general to us. He is in this for the money and who can blame him really. I watched that interview last night and wondered if he went through a sadness in '10 that Cameron and Jason didnt get to play in that premiership, and if ultimately the mechanism Collingwood used to get him there (taking his spud like brothers) ultimately will cost them the one they really wanted in the end anyway... Gone imo....

 

[The Finger]

And we've all had to put up with your cry for help post Collingwood beating your precious saints.

Get over yourself seriously your so far off the mark its comical.

 

[Papa Juggs]

Collingwood is under massive salary cap pressure.

It's their own fault fighting tooth and nail to keep both Thomas and Pendles.

The Saints are in the same position with Riewoldt and Goddard.

If all 4 of these players I've named are at the same teams next year I'd be very surprised. They deserve much more than they're getting now (well maybe not Roo) and will have to look seriously at outside offers if their own club can't clean the cap out.

 

[La Vache]

what you have to remember is that for us as supporters, we are all about club loyalty. If i was good enough, id honestly play for Geelong for a bag of twisties and a can of tarax creamy soda.

But would you honestly? I love the Hawks but if they told me to leave my uni course and front up all winter for 3 years, for free, I would tell them to shove it up their arse.

Seeing out your contract is not disloyal and trying to add $$$ to your next one isn't either.

If Cloke wins the Copeland, Norm Smith, The Coleman and the Pies win the flag (all possibilities but probably not all at once, granted) then he adds value to his worth. If Collingwood then don't meet with market demand with their next offer then he is within his rights to piss them off.

Expecting players to sign for significantly less than their worth because of loyalty or the old 'keeping the premiership team together for future success' is very romantic but really it is completely unfair.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

Get over yourself seriously your so far off the mark its comical.

I think not.