Travis Cloke slams ‘bull****’ claims Nathan Buckley – Mick Malthouse handover cost Pies flag

For almost a decade some have tried to blame Collingwood’s shock 2011 Grand Final defeat at the hands of Geelong on the infamous ‘succession plan’. Now a beloved Pie explains what really cost the Magpies.

Mick Malthouse stepped down as Collingwood coach after 2011.

Collingwood premiership star Travis Cloke says the club’s contentious succession plan had nothing to do with the lost 2011 Grand Final.

Cloke told the Sunday Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast that theory was “bulls***” as a senior player who had an intimate understanding of the inner workings of the club and friendships with a cross-section of players.

In Mick Malthouse’s final year before he handed over to Nathan Buckley some senior players petitioned the club to keep their beloved leader.

But Cloke says even if that year was especially turbulent it did not contribute to a Grand Final loss to Geelong in which the Magpie were steamrolled after being only seven points down at three-quarter-time.

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“I think it’s bulls*** which was beaten up because of the situation. Because Mick was moving and the transition was happening,” Cloke said.

“I believe it didn’t have an impact on our 2011 season and I am sure there are people who would say it did, but as a player who was pretty critical in that group I don’t believe it did.

“When (talk of players lobbying for Mick) came out I thought, ‘Did I have my head in the sand for 12 months?’ and I would say I am a pretty in-touch-with-the-group type of person. I talk to all people, not just the players, from bootstudders to the administration.

“I didn’t buy into it. I couldn’t care less who was coaching. Mick was a father figure to me and Bucks was into Xs and Os, but I had respect for both men and still do and loved the way they went about it.

Nathan Buckley and Mick Malthouse after the 2011 Grand Final.

“They are very intimidating men from the outside, but I saw him as the Nathan Buckley we see now. It’s what I saw in 2004 when I got drafted.

“Both had strengths and weaknesses. Everyone is scared of Bucks but we would have a laugh and I would sit in his room and almost break down. I could be real with him.”

Cloke said the 2011 Grand Final was the “one” that got away, as Geelong’s Tom Hawkins exploded against an injured Ben Reid, one of Cloke’s best mates.

“I look back and wouldn’t blame (the loss) on that one move or that Taz (Chris Tarrant) shouldn’t have slipped over. You can pick moments in which we cost ourselves. Maybe at halftime I had my hands on the Norm Smith, that’s about it,” Cloke said.

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“That probably sh*** me more than anything, that game. We did lose it on our terms. Pods (James Podsiadly) went down with an injury and Reidy went over to Hawkins and I think Tommy had the best game of his career. Don’t get me wrong, we still give Reidy sh** about his performance that day.

“I am still filthy that one got away from us, (it would have been) two in a row.”

Originally published as Travis Cloke slams ‘bull****’ claims Nathan Buckley – Mick Malthouse handover cost Pies flag