Nathan Buckley admitted Collingwood had major concerns over Adam Treloar’s family situation and it was a “catalyst” for the AFL midfielder’s controversial departure from the Magpies.
The Collingwood coach spoke for the first time since Treloar, and three other players, were forced out of the club to ease salary cap pressure.
Treloar, who joined the Western Bulldogs last Thursday night, was floated as trade bait during the last off-season before re-signing with the Magpies until 2025.
The 27-year-old’s partner, Kim Ravaillion, is about to move north with their infant daughter Georgie and play Super Netball with the Queensland Firebirds next year.
Buckley said Collingwood hierarchy wondered how being in a long-distance relationship would affect Treloar’s wellbeing.
Treloar was determined to make the situation work and had no intention of moving to Queensland and desperately wanted to remain at the Magpies, where he played 94 games after arriving in 2016 from Greater Western Sydney.
“There’s no doubt that was a catalyst in some shape or form,” Buckley told SEN
“The possibility that he might have been considering going to Queensland and being with his family was part of the reasoning around having the initial discussion 12 months ago, and then again this year.
“Let’s be clear, it’s not our jobs to live Adam’s life: Adam and Kim and their family are entitled to live their lives as they see fit.
“But it is our responsibility to work out on a professional level how that might affect Adam’s ability to do his job, which is to play football and contribute to the club.
“We are within our rights to have an assessment of that given our knowledge of Adam.”
Collingwood’s view was already well-known when Treloar on Friday fronted the media for the first time as a Bulldogs player, labelling their evaluation as “really disappointing”.
Ravaillion, who has 57 Test caps for Australia, feels she has been used as a “scapegoat” to move Treloar on.
Buckley said there was no way Treloar’s split from Collingwood could have been done “without trauma or pain”.
“These were really hard conversations,” he said.
“I am old enough and mature enough to understand in high pressure situations, in situations that involve the heart that unpredicted outcomes can occur.
“This is brutal. This was always going to be a shock and always going to cause distress.
“Adam’s a heart and soul person. My personal relationship with him is important to me.
“We’re really close but obviously it’s strained at the moment and the dust is yet to settle on that.”
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
"Had major concerns over the family situation", despite the fact that both Treloar and his partner were completely fine and Treloar wanted to stay at Collingwood. Ridiculous.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I thought the same. Whateley and Bucks are mates. Apparently has been over for dinner at the family home on a few occasions.
Slane
Guest
I disagree completely with your assessment of Adam Treloar. He is a gun. But putting all that aside, maybe you could explain how trading Treloar out for a packet of chips while continuing to pay a third of his salary for the next 5 years gets Collingwood closer to acquiring a "Luke Hodge or Sam Mitchell or John(sic) Selwood type"?
Chris
Guest
Adam Treloar is a "good average player" to coin a phrase used by Jack Dyer. He is not a game-changer who can drag a team the line in a Grand Final. He was receiving money that justified precisely that and the discontentment expressed by his colleagues indicated that they couldn't accept his lack of brilliance when that was required...Who needs a pretty boy who's obsessed with social media? I prefer a Luke Hodge or Sam Mitchell or John Selwood type...Wouldn't you?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hi Bell. I think they all got in a huddle before all of this and planned out how it would unfold. Adam would be coerced into going to the Suns for pick 5 and they’d probably offer 5 and 16 plus players for pick 2. They’d then package a swag of picks and players to Nth for Pick 2. Rumour doing the rounds now is it is agreed with Nth they got Stephenson, Atu, pick 14 and future 1st round for pick 2 this year to try land Logan McDonald. They really want this kid who they see as a generational talent. Of course, Adelaide might take him at 1.
Bell31
Roar Rookie
Hi PTS - been sitting quietly on the sidelines watching this all unfold and reading all the commentary - Les Zig has certainly had a way of passionately depicting all the issues. I think there's two distinct issues going on - the first issue is whether or not their trade decisions have been the right ones --- I'm not privvy to the inner workings of the club, so although I can't fathom moving on Stevo in particular, I'm prepared to bide my time and see what the club has in store. The second issue, however, which I think is more concerning than the decisions themselves, and has been covered in numerous articles here, is what appears to be an incoherent approach to how they've handled the 'change management' aspects of the last few weeks --- it's been a concern to see the lack of consistent messaging from the key people from the club (Bucks/Ed/Ned etc) which has just fuelled frustrations, and one can't help but feel that the reliance on 'football is a business' doesn't sit comfortably with the 'side by side' ethos in how they've managed the likes of Treloar/Stevo. It does remind that overall, they're 'just' a football club --- I've seen much larger businesses, with much larger HR / specialist change departments struggle to enact change effectively, and so it's probably no surprise (although no excuse either!) to see a football club struggle with it. I'm going to stay-on as a member - to me, this is probably less troublesome than some of the other issues the club has faced over the years, BUT I think it can't help but reflect serious leadership challenges at the club going forwards - they just don't seem to be on the same page (and we can only judge them from what they say). It WILL be an interesting year ahead for the club.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Treating their supporters and the general public as idiots trying to justify this. They’ve stuffed up in so many ways, they just keep digging that hole deeper and deeper trying to justify it.
justif01
Guest
The whole narrative here is that Buckley and Collingwood are simply trying to save face but in doing so they are tarnishing their club even more. Trying to say that Treloars family situation is a reason for trading him is simply ludicrous. Treloar is a professional and knows what the required standard is. This is a salary cap dump pure and simple. Similarly with Stephenson, he is 21 and had an off year but they still chose to trade him over other players. All that has come out of this is a club with a poor reputation.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
FIGJAM nickname doesn’t include team or club. - Molly Meldrum
John
Guest
Nathan Buckley is a snake in the grass. It’s always some ones else’s fault never his for poor performances. He’s never had the ability to gel a group of young individuals together the way Mick Malthouse did. Any under 10 junior coach from Pitcairn Island would have coached the current list to multiple flags. Eddie claims he loves Buckley but loves Collingwood more. It’s time Eddie acts on his statement and put aside his ego and tell him it’s time to go rather than the Trump like huffing and puffing he seems to enjoy.
MG
Roar Rookie
My understanding is that they extended his contract and back ended it more. It was already back ended from a previous extension so on two occasions they extended his contract and back ended it more. Thought they'd get a flag and then drop players like they were just forced to.
1DER
Guest
Gerrard Whateley was very soft with the questions put forward to Buckley which would suggest that this was a manufactured interview by the Collingwood Football Club.
1DER
Guest
Did Collingwood actually assist these players in finding a new home?
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
its time move buckley on.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Every 14 minutes someone finds love on Eharmony
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I’m not buying any of the BS coming from the club I support at the moment. Buckley’s SEN interview was so carefully constructed by him. List Manager Ned Guy doesn’t have the presence or intelligence to do this so stumbled and tripped through his painful Trade Radio segment. Geoff Walsh clumsily reacted too mentioning Stephenson had been “spoken too several times during the year”. I am under no illusion Adam Treloar, who was courted heavily to come to the Pies by Buckley ahead of Richmond, (where he would now have three premiership medallions) was shafted. He was coerced into back loading his contract for a tilt at a flag to accommodate Dayne Beams, (who gave us only 9 games in a four year deal) and has ultimately been managed out by Buckley, Walsh, Ned Guy and the rest. Buckley was careful and crafty with his words as he is a smart bloke but ultimately he is appearing more and more a chameleon. He changes to being a Buddhist style “mindful” personality as he had too in late 2017 (or would have lost his job) but what is underneath? Perhaps he doesn’t know himself any more. The inability to work through young Jaidyn Stephenson who clearly has some issues (but what 21 year old doesn’t?) but has precocious talent is a double whammy. No membership from this fan for 2021 for the first time in decades. Doesn’t mean I won’t want them to win or can support another side ahead of the Pies but my love affair with the club is very rocky. Won’t care in the slightest if the Dogs and Roos beat us next year with both those boys starring.
Slane
Guest
If Buckley and Collingwood knew they wanted to trade Treloar 12 months ago, why did they sign him up to a 5 year deal 8 months ago? Collingwood are battling really hard to try and take control back of this narrative. Quite frankly it's a load of horse ****.