Travis Cloke a Giant?

[Beaussie]

Is it possible Cloke could leave the Pies? Can the Pies match the money on offer from the Giants?

GWS Giants set to make multi-million dollar bid for Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph
February 22, 201212:00AM

COLLINGWOOD superstar Travis Cloke is the next big-name target of the GWS Giants, with the new franchise able to outlay as much as $1.5 million a season to get their man.

With the 24-year-old out of contract at the end of the year, the Giants will use the remaining space in their salary cap allowance to snatch the 195cm power forward, continuing their plunder of the ranks of opposition clubs.

The rich deal would put Cloke in the same $1 million-plus wage bracket as Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) and Chris Judd (Carlton) and give the Giants the goalkicking juggernaut they need.

The recruitment of Cloke would be every bit as important to the Giants as when the Swans signed Tony Lockett in 1995 and Barry Hall in 2002.

Cloke booted 69 goals last year, helping the Magpies to make the grand final, but he's one of a host of Collingwood's 2010 premiership players out of contract at the end of this season.

Giants football operations manager Graeme "Gubby" Allan will use his close family connections with the Clokes to help seal the deal. Allan played at Collingwood with Cloke's father, David, who manages his son's affairs.

Allan's son Marcus, a former Brisbane Lion, played alongside Cloke as a junior.

A target in the forward line is the glaring weakness in the Giants' armory.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6277623041