Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the Magpies were concerned about Adam Treloar’s family situation and it was a “catalyst” for the AFL midfielder’s departure from the club.
Key points:
- Treloar’s partner Kim Ravaillion is relocating to Queensland with their infant daughter to play Super Netball
- Buckley said the Magpies were concerned how Treloar might be affected on a professional level
- Treloar was contracted to the Magpies until the end of the 2025 AFL season
Treloar joined the Western Bulldogs last Thursday night as one of four players offloaded by the Magpies to other clubs on the final day of the AFL’s trade period.
The Magpies floated Treloar as a trade option during the last off-season before he re-signed with the club until 2025.
The 27-year-old’s partner, Kim Ravaillion, is about to leave Melbourne with their infant daughter and play Super Netball with the Queensland Firebirds next year.
Treloar wanted to remain at the Magpies, where he played 94 matches after arriving in 2016 from Greater Western Sydney.
Buckley said Collingwood officials wondered how being in a long-distance relationship would affect Treloar’s wellbeing.
“There’s no doubt that was a catalyst in some shape or form,” Buckley told SEN radio.
Buckley said the Magpies had conversations with Treloar about his family situation.
“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,” he said.
“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.
Buckley said there was no way Treloar’s split from Collingwood could have been done “without trauma or pain”.
“I am old enough and mature enough to understand in high-pressure situations, in situations that involve the heart, that unpredicted outcomes can occur,” Buckley said.
“This is brutal. This was always going to be a shock and always going to cause distress.”
Treloar, speaking on Friday, said Buckley told him senior Magpies players no longer wanted him at the club.
“To be told there are some players who don’t want you there when I know that the majority of players love and care for me,” he said.
“They were adamant on moving me on so no matter how they were going to go about it, it was going to happen.
“It was a fight up until the end because that’s where I wanted to be, at Collingwood.
“I guess anything was going to be said to move me on.”
The Magpies also arranged trades for Jaidyn Stephenson, Atu Bosenavulagi (both North Melbourne) and Tom Phillips (Hawthorn) last Thursday.
AAP
