Travis Cloke remains intent on switching from Collingwood to the Western Bulldogs and is adamant he has plenty to offer the AFL premiers.
Cloke has one year remaining on his current contract with the Pies, but he is hopeful a deal will be worked out early in the AFL trade period that starts on Monday.
“Ideally, I’ll hopefully get the phone call early next week to say that it’s all been done … and I’ll be able to walk through the doors of the Western Bulldogs Football Club,” Cloke told reporters on Tuesday.
“I’d never say (anything) is a done deal in footy … I’ve been around too long and understand that (sometimes) it doesn’t happen.
“But that’s where I’d love to end up.”
Cloke was dropped by Nathan Buckley three times this year in a season where he managed just 13 senior appearances.
So desperate is Cloke to start afresh that he will forego over half the money he was set to earn in the final year of his lucrative deal with the Pies.
But while he was clearly on the outer at the club he played 246 AFL games for, Cloke doesn’t believe he needs to reinvent himself as a footballer or lose weight, as was suggested by some commentators.
The 29-year-old believes Luke Beveridge can get the best out of him and is hopeful he can help take some pressure off high-profile Dogs forward Tom Boyd if he gets his wish to move to Whitten Oval.
“I’ve taken a bit of an interest in him over the last few years since he did make the move to the Dogs … it’s been well-publicised the pressures that he’s been under,” Cloke said.
“I guess a reason why I have chosen the Dogs is I’d love to work with him.
“Obviously he’s got so much potential and I’d love to help him out where I can.
“(But) it’s up to me to earn some respect at that football club and earn a spot because 22 players ran around at the weekend and you’d like to think they’ll be there in round one as well as (flag) favourites once again.”
Cloke spoke to reporters at a charity event where Geelong veteran Jimmy Bartel had his beard shaved off to promote his anti-domestic violence message.
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