Collingwood holds discussions with Melbourne clubs about Adam Treloar’s future
Gold Coast now holds little hope Adam Treloar wants to join the Suns. What does that mean for his future? Get the latest on where he could be in 2020.
Collingwood
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Collingwood could return Steele Sidebottom into a predominantly onball role if the Magpies can trade out star midfielder Adam Treloar next week.
The Magpies want to improve their onball operations next season after finishing 11th for centre clearances and 12th for around the ground clearances despite Brodie Grundy’s tap dominance.
The Magpies have held discussions with Melbourne clubs in recent days about Treloar’s future with Gold Coast holding little hope he wants to join the Suns.
Western Bulldogs loom large in the event hard nut Josh Dunkley formally requests a trade to Essendon, opening up a spot in the Dogs’ midfield for Treloar.
Melbourne on Wednesday confirmed it was unlikely it would make a play for the Magpie.
Meanwhile St Kilda CEO Simon Lethlean said on Treloar: “We’re very interested observers. Treloar is a sensational player... but, if you asked me right now if he would be at the Saints, I would say it’s very unlikely.”
There has been an angry fan response to Collingwood’s decision to explore a new home for Treloar, but the club wants to be aggressive in its attempts to improve the list.
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The midfield operations are a key item for coach Nathan Buckley and a move to return Sidebottom into the onball slot could sharpen their midfield ball use.
Exclusive figures from Champion Data show the Magpies were + 23 in centre clearances when Sidebottom started in the centre square compared to – 7 when he was out this year in the games he played.
In comparison, Collingwood was – 12 in clearances when Treloar was in the centre square compared to – 16 when he was out.
Sidebottom, 29, has moved around the ground in the past two seasons to accommodate onballers Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury, Treloar and at times Jordan De Goey.
According to Champion Data, Sidebottom’s centre bounce attendance percentage has dropped from 50 per cent in his career-best 2018 season to only 23 per cent this year.
But Treloar’s departure would help catapult Sidebottom back into the engine room.
Magpies’ list manager Ned Guy was tight-lipped when asked if Treloar, 27, would be at the club next season.
As revealed in the Herald Sun on Monday, forward Brody Mihocek has signed a three-year deal, while Tom Phillips and Mason Cox could be traded.
Guy could also not guarantee speedster Jaidyn Stephenson would be at the club next season, but he said a contract extension for De Goey was close.
“Hopefully (a De Goey deal is) sooner rather than later,” Guy said.
Guy said Collingwood could attempt to extend Cox’s deal in a bid to shuffle back some of his money.
The Swans are chasing a ruckman and have been linked to Cox.
“(Cox) has hit a trigger for 2021, and we‘re in discussions looking beyond 2021 as well,” he said.
PIES FINALLY SPEAK ON TRELOAR SITUATION
Nick Smart
Collingwood list boss Ned Guy says the Magpies have an “appetite” to trade into this year’s AFL National Draft while remaining tight-lipped on the future of Adam Treloar.
The Magpies are under salary cap pressure, while Treloar has a hefty contract until 2025.
Following a week of silence from the Magpies, Guy gave little away when discussing the midfielder on the first day of the AFL Trade Period.
“We’re just working through that at the moment with Adam and his manager Tim,” Guy said on AFL Trade Radio.
“I understand people want a line of sight and to see where things are at, but we do have that commitment to Adam and his manager Tim Hazell that we weren’t going to do anything publicly until now.
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“Trade period hadn’t started, but we’ll be speaking up when there is something to say.”
The Magpies currently have selections No. 14, 34, 37, 69, 86 in this year’s draft, but Guy indicated he wanted a stronger hand for club recruiter Derek Hine.
“We don’t make too many apologies for trying to get better,” Guy said.
“We have an appetite to get back into this year’s draft, we rate it pretty highly and we have Derek Hine who’s a great talent ID.”
On whether Jaidyn Stephenson is a required player with three years to run on in his deal:
“A conversation with a player doesn’t necessarily equate to them leaving. We have all these conversations through exit interviews with players and I don’t think it necessarily means it’s going to happen with any player,” Guy said.
Do you see him being at the club in 2021?
“I guess that remains to be seen. We have to get through trade period.”
Tom Phillips
“We moved Josh Daicos up to a wing this year and he had a super year, finished sixth in our best and fairest and we’ve got Steele Sidebottom obviously to come back who missed the back half of this season so we can see him playing on a wing, so it’s more of around a role discussion with Flip,” Guy said.
Mason Cox – does he have a contract for next year is he a required player?
“He has hit a trigger for 2021 and we’re even in discussions potentially beyond 2021 as well with Mason, there’s a bit to play out there,” Guy said.
Jordan De Goey contract extension:
“Hopefully sooner rather than later”
Tom McDonald – do you need another marking forward on your list?
“There’s a lot of areas we’re trying to strengthen up … But in Tom’s case … I don’t think we’ll go down that path,” he said.
MORE AFL NEWS
Brody Mihocek and his contract extension
“Yep, I don’t think it’s been announced, I probably shouldn’t have said that, but yes he has (re-signed),” he said.
Dayne Beams on the resolution to his contract
“We’re just continuing to support Dayne, we’ll work through what needs to be worked through, we’re not going to shy away from that support for Dayne,” Guy said.
Josh Thomas / Will Hoskin Elliott, any talk of other players being on the table?
“I haven’t heard anything around those guys, that’s news to me. All clubs are pretty proactive this time of year … there’s not a player that doesn’t get asked about,” Guy said.