Collingwood would consider trading Travis Cloke for the right price

COLLINGWOOD would consider trading Travis Cloke if a rival club proposed an advantageous trade deal, according to football manager Neil Balme.

Travis Cloke. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD would consider trading Travis Cloke if a rival club proposed an advantageous trade deal, according to football manager Neil Balme.

Cloke, 29, is contracted next season but is “more upset than anyone” about being dropped to the VFL team for the third time this season, casting a dark cloud over his future at the Pies.

Balme said the Pies were happy to keep Cloke next season but would listen to rival clubs about a potential trade for the premiership spearhead.

But they won’t actively seek out a trade themselves.

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“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 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.”

But he is adamant that it will only be considered if a club comes to the Magpies - not the other way around.

“No, no,” Balme declared when asked if a trade would be sought.

“We’re committed to him. He’s got a contract and we’re happy with the contract.”

Speculation has been abound that Cloke could seek out a trade at the end of the season for a fresh start, but Balme said there is plenty more to throw into the mix.

“Can he get back the form that we need to see, how far off is he? How far off does he think he is compared to what we do?,” he said.

“He has played OK, but not OK enough and not quite doing what we need. There is pressure on us to perform as a team.

Travis Cloke has struggled all season for Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

“We want him to play as well as he can. But if he can’t quite do it, what do we do? Is it chicken or egg? Wait for him or make a decision on it?

“It’s not personal but it’s pretty tough. It’s tough on him but it’s tough to make the decisions.”

Balme said clubs work together to make mutually beneficial deals.

“Clubs aren’t bloody-minded enough to be nasty about things. The reality is you’ve got to look after each other,” he said.

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“Travis has had a wonderful time at the footy club and no one is more upset than he is about the fact that he is not playing quite as well, and he may not quite agree.

“But the reality is you don’t pick a team to pick a bad team.”

Originally published as Collingwood would consider trading Travis Cloke for the right price