Just weeks after spurning overtures from Richmond, Adam Treloar has rubbed salt in the Tigers’ wounds, revealing he had chosen Collingwood because of their superior AFL playing list.
Richmond made a huge play to try to snatch the wantaway GWS midfielder from under the Magpies’ noses but couldn’t convince the 22-year-old his chances of premiership success were greater at Punt Road.
“People may think I’m silly because Richmond have a lot of good players … but I think Collingwood have a better list, a younger list, who in a few years’ time can hopefully win a premiership,” Treloar said on Wednesday from a Falls Creek training camp for first to fourth-year players.
“That’s my ultimate goal and this team’s goal. It’s been clearly evident when I’ve come into this club that they’re driven for one success and that’s to be a premiership team – that’s what I want to be a part of.”
Damien Hardwick’s men have played finals for the past three seasons, while the Magpies haven’t managed a top-eight finish since 2013 and suffering a humiliating 91-point defeat in round 21 last season at the hands of the Tigers.
Treloar thanked Richmond for their interest but said Collingwood were the side he wanted to join when he made the decision to seek a trade back to Victoria to be closer to family and friends.
The hard-running midfielder, who cost the Pies two first-round draft picks, upset the Giants on his way out the door when he underwent groin surgery without the club’s knowledge.
Treloar was still officially a GWS player at the time, but he defended his decision to address the issue that dogged him throughout the 2015 season.
“I had a medical done at Collingwood and they gave me a bit of advice on what they thought could happen but, ultimately, they left it to me – it was my decision,” he said.
“I wasn’t a Giants player at the time, or (at least) I had indicated to them that I didn’t want to be there and wanted to be traded, and they respected that decision.
“I decided that I wanted to get the surgery done because, if I signed with Collingwood a month ago, I would have had the surgery done then and I would have been pushed back further, so what was the point of that?
“I wanted to come in firing … that’s why I got the surgery done.”
Treloar believes he is already reaping the benefits of the operation and is back running ahead of schedule.
Get-A-Life
Guest
Just a decent memory for bloggers who have a particularly unhealthy interest in certain subjects. No need for psychoanalysis as it there for all to see.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Haha - I must admit, I loved Aker. Yeah, he was a gigantic nob and must have been awful to deal with in the locker room, but he kept backing his mouth up on the field where it mattered. Credit to him for demanding the spotlight and performing well under its gaze. You're absolutely spot on though with your remark about beat-ups like this being why interviews with athletes are so vanilla.
Paul D
Roar Guru
More to it than just the general dismissiveness most people have towards Collingwood? Go on then. Thrill us with your psychoanalysis of my off-hand dribble on this site, clearly you've got nothing better to do than archive everything I say.
Get-A-Life
Guest
So you know Buckley do you?
Get-A-Life
Guest
Your apathy towards Collingwood sure isn't reflected in the amount of your disparaging remarks about them in numerous articles about them. Seems to be a little more to it methinks.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Meh, I struggle to muster up anything more than apathy for Collingwood. Happy for them to sit in the mid-table hell for a decade and be quietly irrelevant, just as they have been for the last few seasons.
TomC
Roar Guru
It's an off-hand comment by a young man who is trying to avoid saying that he wanted to join Collingwood because they're the biggest and best resourced, and probably offered him the most money to boot. He's an excellent footballer who Pies' fans are going to love, but he's no politician. This sort of dramatic beat-up is the reason interviews with athletes are so vanilla. Sometimes I yearn for the days of Akermanis. Only briefly though.
Copeland
Guest
Good move Treloar, sucking up to a self-centred, ego driven, dud coach like Buckley is certainly the way to go. It will be interesting to see what his attitude is, when Collingwood fails to make the finals again during season 2016 and Buckley is shown the door.
Get-A-Life
Guest
Gollum always has interesting comments. Really need to get over yourselves about the Buckley/Bears episode.
Get-A-Life
Guest
You really don't like the Magpies do you mate?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
KB had an interesting response - suggested that Treloar look into how his new coach chose Collingwood over Brisbane in order to win premierships - see how that turned out for him.
George
Roar Rookie
At least the list is debatable, what isn't is his picking to play for one of the s__ttiest head coaches in the game.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Well, of course not. But is this Collingwood under 23 brigade something special? I don't think so.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I'm not sure he's going to be saying Collingwood's list is in worse shape than Richmond's, now is he? But maybe he means their under-23 brigade?
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
How long is long term? This impressive list allegedly threw in the towel in that round 21 Richmond thrashing. Or did they? Nothing to play for anymore, apparently? At the very least, some must've been playing for their careers, surely. Treloar must see something that nobody else can. I doubt it though.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I think the Pies list probably in better state than Richmond long term.... But the now, Tigers could of nearly been in a Window with Treloar and Yarren as inclusions.... Oh well see how it plays out
Tricky
Guest
David I agree, I am a Pies man but I don't think we'll match the Dogs or Gws for that matter come 3 seasons from now. Top 4 at best but less chance than a flag then the other 2
Paul D
Roar Guru
Didn't the Tigers flog Collingwood by 90 points in round 21? Those Pies are in great shape.
David
Guest
If he wanted a flag he should have stayed at GWS, he just chased the $$$. Delusional if he thinks Collingwood is in a better shape than Richmond.