Brisbane won't enter bidding war for Travis Cloke

BRISBANE will not enter the multi-million dollar bidding war for out-of-contract Collingwood star Travis Cloke.

Travis Cloke

BRISBANE will not enter the multi-million dollar bidding war for out-of-contract Collingwood star Travis Cloke.

Talks between Cloke and the Magpies broke down on Tuesday and have been put on hold until the end of the season.

Carlton, Fremantle and Melbourne lead the list of potential suitors should Cloke opt to leave Collingwood who put forward a five-year deal in the vicinity of $4 million.

It is understood rival clubs have offered up to $5.5 million for the same period.

Brisbane is still paying Brendan Fevola in 2012 but with the controversial full forward no longer on Brisbane's books in 2013, the Lions will be cashed up and on the hunt for a key forward.

But Cloke's asking price is too much for the Lions who will look to trade week, free agency or the draft to fill the void in the forward line.

"We haven't expressed any interest in Travis Cloke or formally approached his management," Lions general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.

"We just won't be in the mix to be honest."

Brisbane has previously expressed its interest in luring home out-of-contract Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett who has suffered a series of head knocks in recent weeks but Warren declined to comment on Tippett.

Lions captain Jonathan Brown says the drama surrounding Cloke's contract negotiations should not be a distraction for his Magpies teammates.

Brown has been there and done that, having fielded massive offers to return to Victoria before opting to stay at the Gabba.

And he backed the decision by the Cloke camp to delay a decision until the end of the season, saying it was a "prudent" call.

"I went through it in 2008 but it was based up here so you probably weren't going through it day-to-day, getting asked about it," Brown said.

"It just comes down to each player on their individual basis, how they can handle that contract side of things going on behind the scenes.

"You've got to be able to separate it from the football.

"Unfortunately though he's been in a bit of a form rut where the contract speculation (that may) have been affecting him...who knows.

"But if it is affecting him, to hold off until the end of the year, that's prudent.

"I don't think it affects his teammates, as teammates we don't think about other blokes contract situations."