Travis Cloke officially requests a trade from Collingwood

EXCLUSIVE: COLLINGWOOD spearhead Travis Cloke has requested a trade from the Magpies after personally informing club chiefs he wants a fresh start.

Travis Cloke has told Collingwood he wants to be traded. Picture: Getty

EXCLUSIVE: COLLINGWOOD spearhead Travis Cloke has requested a trade from the Magpies.

The Herald Sun can reveal Cloke personally informed club chiefs today in a decision backed by his manager Robbie D’Orazio from Connors Sports Management.

The Pies confirmed this afternoon Cloke has requested a move.

“Collingwood can confirm that veteran forward Travis Cloke this morning asked to be released from the final year of his contract,” the club said in a statement.

“While Travis remains contracted to play for Collingwood in 2017, all at Collingwood respect Travis’ right to explore his options and acknowledge his 12 years of exceptional senior service.”

The 29-year-old has been frustrated at being dropped from the senior team three times this season and is keen on a fresh start at a Melbourne club in 2017.

Western Bulldogs and Richmond are his preferred new homes.

A club announcement is expected this afternoon.

Cloke is contracted to Collingwood for next season but will pursue an opportunity elsewhere in a bid to reinvigorate his 246-game career.

Travis Cloke has requested a trade from Collingwood. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Cloke’s father, David, did not want to comment when asked today about his son’s future.

This season at Collingwood he fell down the key forward pecking order behind Mason Cox, Jesse White and Darcy Moore.

Cloke is believed to have been on about $400,000 in the final year of his Collingwood contract next season.

But Collingwood may have to pay some of the All-Australian forward’s salary in 2017 to help facilitate his move to a new club.

He kicked 17 goals from 13 AFL games this season but finished the year strongly in the VFL with nine goals in two games for the Pies’ reserves.

Bulldogs defender Matthew Suckling said Cloke would be an attractive trade target.

“Travis obviously being a special player for a long time, and I’m sure list managers will make that decision but, yeah he’s been a good player,” Suckling said today.

“I’m sure Trav can fit into most clubs and have an impact next year so we’ll wait and see what the list managers decide.”

Cloke played his last senior game in the thrilling one-point loss to Hawthorn on Sunday and tugged his jumper after booting a clutch last-term goal.

It is understood Cloke has told Collingwood he is extremely grateful for his 12 years at the club.

He believes he has two or three years of top-line football ahead of him at a new club.

Collingwood has said it is open to trading Cloke for a suitable trade deal.

Travis Cloke tugs his Collingwood jumper after kicking a goal in the loss to Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Industry sources said today the premiership goalkicker would be worth a third-round draft pick.

Collingwood football manager Neil Balme today confirmed Cloke’s trade request.

“That will be totally determined by what Travis wants to do … and then it has to suit us and what we want to do,” Balme said recently on SEN.

“Who knows what’s going to happen and we are all open to whatever is going to happen but I guarantee you he has a contract and we are more than happy to have him because that is what we entered into four years ago.”

Coaching legend Michael Malthouse said Cloke “is a bloke who needs to be loved”.

“He (Cloke) has got to see that he is in demand at the football club … and (it will affect him) if at any moment he feels like he is just a sundry,” Malthouse said on SEN.

Malthouse said Cloke was a perfect fit at the kennel, partnering Jake Stringer, Tom Boyd and Stewart Crameri in attack next season.

“What you end up with is Boyd alternating between forward and ruck and Cloke being the dominant forward,” Malthouse said.

“You can get away with that because they have got the sharpness around them.

Cloke will appear on Channel 9’s Footy Show on Thursday night.

More to come.

Originally published as Travis Cloke officially requests a trade from Collingwood