Collingwood president Eddie McGuire declares 'war' on Fremantle over Travis Cloke contract

DEFIANT Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said he would declare war on Fremantle if it poached star forward Travis Cloke.

Travis Cloke

DEFIANT Collingwood president Eddie McGuire yesterday said he would declare war on Fremantle if it poached star forward Travis Cloke, promising the Magpies would attempt to lure the best young Dockers to the Magpies as payback.

The fiery salvo came at the president's lunch before the Magpies defeated the Dockers by 29 points at the MCG.

McGuire claimed the Magpies would target Fremantle's best 22 and 23 year-olds with the "war chest" that would be freed up by Cloke's departure.

Dockers president Steve Harris said last night he was confident no club would base its list management strategy on revenge or intimidation.

McGuire's threat also rung hollow because the Dockers have already secured their best young players on long-term deals.

"They were audacious in the way they picked up Ross Lyon late last year and good luck to them," McGuire said.

"However, if you did pick up your Footy Record today do what I'll be doing and that is going to their list and looking at the 22-23 year-olds that you like and submit them to me after the game.

"If we lose Cloke I will have a war chest and will declare war on the world. And first port of call will be Fremantle . . . You think I'm joking don't you? I'm not joking, I promise you."

Cloke confirmed in an interview on The Footy Show this week that the Dockers had offered him a five-year deal worth close to $1m a season, but said he was unlikely to move west because he didn't like flying or the hot weather in Perth.

Harris, who was at the function, said he did not take the threat to Fremantle's list seriously.

"I don't think any club in Australia structures its list management around a revenge or intimidation strategy," he said.

"They structure their list management around getting the best players and the best value for their players. So it certainly wasn't something I took seriously in any sense and I shook his hand afterwards and we had a big laugh together about it."

Fremantle's pursuit of Cloke has been public news for months, as the Dockers scour the country for key forwards.

Veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands joins Matthew Pavlich on the veterans' list at the end of the season, freeing up a substantial war chest of their own to 'milk' free agency, which begins in October.

McGuire said if Cloke left, the Magpies could cover the loss.

"No one person dominates the Collingwood football club," McGuire said.

"No player walks out the door and the club is decimated. We're a strong club, we believe in what we believe in."