http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/collingwood/travis-cloke-says-leaving-collingwood-was-the-hardest-decision-hes-ever-had-to-make/news-story/965f74c05148e854ae5fed1b633372a4DEPARTING Collingwood forward Travis Cloke has nominated the Western Bulldogs and
Richmond as his preferred clubs for next season, saying he had no choice but to look elsewhere to restart his stalled AFL career.
Admitting the decision to walk away from the last year of his contract at Collingwood was one of the hardest of his life, Cloke said recent discussions with coach Nathan Buckley made him realise a move was the only way to move forward.
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And the 29-year-old dual All-Australian is adamant he can return to the form that once saw him as one of the league’s best power forwards, saying he plans to speak with St Kilda veteran Nick Riewoldt about how he can prolong his career.
Bucks is a great fellow ... I just didn’t fit into the game structure or the game set up.
Travis Cloke
“I am a pretty loyal person and that was probably the hardest thing to remove myself from that 2017 contract,” Cloke told The Footy Show on Thursday night.
“Obviously I had conversations with Bucks, and I guess it just wasn’t going to work out for the both of us. I didn’t want to be playing VFL football and they can’t guarantee you can be playing senior footy all the time, depending on form, the body, what the club is doing and where it is going.”
Cloke, who has played 246 games and kicked 441 goals with Collingwood since his 2005 debut, was dropped to the VFL on three occasions this season.
Travis Cloke pulls his Collingwood jumper after kicking a goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Travis Cloke pulls his Collingwood jumper after kicking a goal. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
He admitted that the third time it happened, he realised he was going to have to move clubs.
“That hurt a lot,” he said.
Cloke maintained he would always remain friends with Buckley, but acknowledged that their relationship as player and coach had “ups and downs”.
“Bucks is a great fellow ... I just didn’t fit into the game structure or the game set up for the Collingwood Football Club in the end,” he said.
“It is disappointing. It was a hard decision to make, but at the same time, it was a good decision for all involved.”
Cloke said the Western Bulldogs had been in discussion with his management, and he was excited by the way they played, and how they intended to play him, if a suitable deal can be arranged.
Nathan Buckley chats to Travis Cloke earlier in the season. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Nathan Buckley chats to Travis Cloke earlier in the season. Picture: Mark DadswellSource:News Corp Australia
“I guess I have enjoyed watching their footy over the last two years to see how ‘Bevo’ (Luke Beveridge) has changed their whole football club around,” he said.
“If that’s where I do end up ... I feel like I could help to improve their side and hopefully they can get the best out of me.
“I still believe I have plenty of good football left in me.”
Cloke said his former coach Mick Malthouse and Buckley were “polar opposites” in coaching styles.
“I owe everything to Mick,” he said. “I really loved playing under him. I understood the way he went about it.”
“He is very different to Bucks. They are polar opposites in their coaching, but at the same time they both understood what they wanted to do, and both are strong-minded individuals.”
