Western Bulldogs set to offer Collingwood pick No.71 to secure Travis Cloke in a trade

UPDATE: TRAVIS Cloke says he can’t wait to partner Tom Boyd in the Western Bulldogs’ assault for back to back premierships next season.

UPDATE: TRAVIS Cloke says he can’t wait to join the Western Bulldogs and be part of their assault for back to back premierships next season.

Cloke today said he hoped a deal to send him to the kennel was finalised next week.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST ON THE DOGS-PIES DEAL

The marking target said he was looking forward to partnering Tom Boyd in the Bulldogs’ forward line after taking a keen interest in his development over the past three years.

“Ideally, hopefully I’ll get a call next week and they’ll say it (trade) had all been done and ideally I’ll walk through the doors of the Western Bulldogs,” Cloke said today at Jimmy Bartel’s face shave event for TAB.

“That’s where I’d love to end up. I’ve loved their football and I guess I’ve made it obvious that’s where I want to go even before the finals kicked off.

“To see their success and their younger players really grow and develop in the past four weeks has been fantastic and I think the way they played their football has been driven by Luke Beveridge.”

Travis Cloke is looking forward to working under premiership coach Luke Beveridge.

Cloke said he wanted to work with Boyd and believed the two big forwards could learn from each other.

“I’ve taken a bit of an interest in his football over the past few years and it has been well publicised the pressures that he is under,” Cloke said.

“And a reason why I have chosen the Dogs is to work with him.

“Obviously, he has got so much potential and I’d love to work with him where I can. And that’s up to me to earn some respect and some brownie points within that football club to earn a spot.

Cloke said Boyd’s Grand Final performance was outstanding.

“I could probably learn a thing or two from him from the weekend,” Cloke said.

“Some of his marking some of his work was fantastic and that role him helping (Jordan) Roughead in the ruck has really helped him get up the ground.”

Travis Cloke: "I read this morning I might get done for pick No.71. Nice to know I've got some value." TC in fine form @tabcomau event

— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) October 4, 2016

Cloke said coach Luke Beveridge was another key reason for his move.

Cloke said the coach could help being the best out of the goalkicker in the twilight of his career.

“He is a good fella. I had the honour of working with him a few years back at Collingwood and to see what he’s done at Hawthorn and now at the Dogs as well,” he said.

“He probably needs to get out of the gym a bit and stop working on his guns. I hear he’s still doing that a fair bit.

“I definitely enjoy the way he goes about his football, and the way he goes about his coaching. I’m looking forward also, if it’s to be done, Luke Beveridge getting the best out of myself.”

Travis Cloke wants to join reigning premiers the Bulldogs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Pick No.71 is the best Collingwood can expect from the Bulldogs in exchange for Cloke.

The Dogs have ruled out using any of its earlier selections on Cloke, including pick No.59, and remain hopeful hard-nut midfielder Lin Jong will stay with the new premiers despite an approach from Gold Coast.

Jong, 23, is set to make a decision on his future in consultation with family after completing his exit interview with Dogs officials in the next two days.

Collingwood will attempt to use the cash created by Cloke’s departure to help secure free agents Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) and Chris Mayne (Fremantle) as well as speedy Greater Western Sydney wingman Will Hoskin-Elliott.

Western Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said Cloke was essentially a free agent and would hopefully cost the Dogs little to nothing in trade terms.

“For a player in that (Cloke’s) situation, we wouldn’t be prepared to give up too much,” McCartney said on SEN on Tuesday morning.

“A bit like Stevie J and Chappy when they left the Cats, they’re essentially a free agent, even though they’re in contract.”

McCartney told the Herald Sun on Monday the club would be active in this year’s trade period in a bid to add to its key forward stocks.

“We have had some discussions about it (trading Cloke) because we are probably a bit light-on in that area of our list profile,” McCartney said.

McCartney said teen premiership hero Zaine Cordy played a crucial key forward role this season but was seen “playing down back in the long-term”, opening up a spot for Cloke to be part of a back-to-back premiership tilt.

The Dogs won the flag with the most inexperienced Grand Final side since Melbourne in 2000, with an average 81 games per player.

Potential departures from the Kennel include fringe players Jong, Nathan Hrovat and Koby Stevens.

“You can’t stand still,” McCartney said.

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“We always understand what some clubs have done in the past in the space of one off-season, and the Cats obviously last year went from not playing finals to catapulting right back up, with some of the acquisitions they brought in.

“So, we are happy with what we have, but we need to keep working to add to that.”

The Dogs have been installed as the equal $4.50 favourite for next year’s flag with GWS Giants, factoring in the likely returns of Stewart Crameri, captain Bob Murphy, Mitch Wallis and Marcus Adams.

Cloke has met with Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge and impressed the club with his resolve.

The 29-year-old is open to losing some weight after Carlton champion Chris Judd called on the forward to trim down by as much as 5kg.

Travis Cloke was dropped by Collingwood three times in 2016. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

McCartney said the Dogs were happy with their assessments on Cloke.

“From the information and investigations we have done, it all looks positive, but it’s not a done deal,” he said.

Paul Connors, who runs Cloke’s management company, said Cloke was prepared to accept more than a 50 per cent pay cut to reinvigorate his career.

He was on about $800,000 this year at Collingwood but was set to earn about $450,000 there next year.

“Travis is going there if he can, for very minimal money,” Connors said.

“The money is irrelevant to Travis. He’s earned good money along the way. It’s a significant pay cut ... over 50 per cent.”

Connors said Hoskin-Elliott, who was taken with pick No. 4 in the 2011 draft but has been struck down by persistent injuries, wanted to land at Collingwood.

“They (Magpies) are probably our preferred club if possible,” Connors said.

“I think they (GWS) would look at it, (but) he’s contracted.”

Lin Jong may not leave the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

The Herald Sun last month revealed Gold Coast had emerged as the frontrunner for Jong, who was emergency for Saturday’s premiership win.

McCartney said the club’s most recent negotiations with Jong’s manager, Nick Gieschen, were positive.

“We would like him (Jong) to stay, big-time,” McCartney said.

“We would have liked to get that done the other weekend when he was out injured but then there was the Lazarus-type recovery from the great man and he was back in playing mode.

“Hopefully, when he gets a chance to catch up with his manager and go through those things, then we will get some sort of indication from him and hopefully he is keen to stay.

“The thing about yesterday (Monday) is you don’t want to have that conversation with them a day after the ‘granny’ (Grand Final).

“You want them to be able to enjoy the moment.”