October 2, 2010
Played in Collingwood's first premiership since 1990, after the Magpies prevailed in the replay against St Kilda. Comes out of contract.
October 11, 2010
Rumours swirl about a potential trade to Carlton or Essendon as trade week nears as end.
David Cloke tells SEN he is prepared to put his out-of-contract son in the NAB AFL Draft if they fail to reach agreeable terms with the Magpies.
"It seems to be all coming from Collingwood, the sticking point," Cloke snr said.
"They put an offer to us three or four months ago which we weren’t happy with. We seem to have been the ones making the moves … they are not altering much in their thinking …"
Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh says he's confident "the deal will be struck and player and club will get on with business".
October 13, 2010
Cloke agrees to a two-year contract extension with the Pies.
November 20, 2010
Cloke tells the club's website he never entertained the idea of leaving the Pies and had already verbally committed to incoming coach Nathan Buckley a year earlier.
"I wanted to stay here no matter what," Cloke said.
"I spoke to 'Bucks' midway through the year when we started negotiations and I said to 'Bucks' that I would be here when he takes over in 12 months time. I wanted to be part of this because I knew the club was in a great position."
Season 2011
Has an unbelievable year. Is named at centre half forward in the All Australian team, kicks a career-high 69 goals (second in the Coleman medal), and takes a competition-high 95 contested marks.
Places third in the club's best and fairest and kicked three important goals in the first half of the lost Grand Final against Geelong.
February, 2012
Speculation mounts about Greater Western Sydney shifting Cloke to the top of their out-of-contract player target list.
March 23, 2012
Cloke tells The Footy Show he has not been contacted by GWS.
He says he wants to remain in black and white but "ideally", he'd like to focus on his football and delay contract talks until the season's end.
March 28, 2012
Scott Pendlebury signs a four-year contract extension.
March 29, 2012
Cloke fronts the media and reiterates that he won't rush his negotiations despite intensifying speculation.
Softens his previous stance and says "it's not a certainty" talks are going to wait until the end of the year.
Buckley has to deflect persistent questioning to Cloke to the Pies' upcoming round one clash with Hawthorn.
Travis Cloke marks in front of James Frawley. Picture: AFL MediaApril 12, 2012
Heath Shaw signs a three-year contract extension.
May 4, 2012
Fremantle enters the scene with coach Ross Lyon stating the club is looking for a new key forward.
May 16, 2012
GWS CEO Dave Matthews tells The Daily Telegraph the new club doesn't intend to make an offer for Cloke, and will instead focus on re-contracting their own young talent.
May 21, 2012
Buckley suggests the contract negotiations "would be taking a toll on [Cloke] in some way", with his form suggesting something is playing on his mind.
May 29, 2012
Buckley says it's too easy to blame the talks for Cloke's on-field struggles, citing Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield as a player who performed while his own future was being debated.
May 30, 2012
Lachlan Keeffe signs a two-year contract extension.
June 3, 2012
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy echoes Matthews' stance and tells Channel 7 Cloke "wouldn't be on my list".
Sheedy says ruckmen and key backs are more of a priority for the Giants.
June 11, 2012
Buckley tells Footy Classified he believes long-term player contracts are "fraught with danger".
Says the out-of-contract Pies were told of the tight salary cap position at the start of the year.
June 20, 2012
Steele Sidebottom, Jarryd Blair and Luke Ball sign two-year contract extensions.
June 28, 2012
Cloke goes on The Footy Show for 'that' interview.
Says he would like to sign a new deal with the club he has family history at but concedes "this is my career and I'm obviously trying to get what's best for myself".
Travis Cloke with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley on Anzac Day. Picture: AFL MediaSays he doesn't feel pressured to sign so out-of-contract teammates can finalise their own new terms.
Confirms a five-year deal worth around $1million a season is on the table from Fremantle.
Denies any contact with Carlton.
Says he's open to a four-year deal with Collingwood but admits he believes "five years is where I'm at".
June 29, 2012
AFL great Leigh Matthews tells AFL.com.au's Access All Areas Cloke's decision to discuss the negotiations and outline a rival offer on The Footy Show was individualistic.
"Why did he do it?" Matthews said.
"I mean, it's great for The Footy Show but I thought it was bad for Travis.
"If I'm Nathan Buckley and Collingwood, I'm thinking 'Travis, I know an individual contract is an individual thing in a team sport but don't go out in public and air it all.
"He's part of a team and I'm wondering what his teammates think."
June 29, 2012
The out-of-contract Harry O'Brien says in a scheduled press conference he supports Cloke and the way he is going about his negotiations.
Also says he is prepared to take a pay cut to remain a Pie, despite knowing there is likely more money on offer elsewhere.
July 9, 2012
Cloke and his managers meet with the Pies in a Monday evening meeting that attempts to finalise the outstanding contract.
The Age reports both Fremantle and Carlton have offered five-year deals worth about $5million.
July 10, 2012
Buckley remains confident Cloke will stay.
Says the situation doesn't remind him of the Gary Ablett speculation two years ago before the former Geelong midfielder crossed to Gold Coast, after ex-Cats coach Mark Thompson suggested similarities on Fox Footy the night before.
Club president Eddie McGuire tells Triple M he "walked away [from the meeting] confident everyone is trying to get to the same place".
Confirms Fremantle's interest and suggests Melbourne "have had a go with a very long-term contract".
July 15, 2012
Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse tells Channel 7 he doesn't think Cloke's father is the best person to represent him.
"David has been involved clearly with [sons] Jason and Cameron and now Trav of course, and I don't think it works quite frankly," Malthouse said.
"Fathers have got a place to play. They are clearly proud and they want to give the best instructions and foresight as [they] possibly can but keep away from the other side of things."
July 24, 2012
Collingwood releases a statement that says all contract talks with Cloke are on hold until the end of the 2012 campaign.
It comes hours after captain Nick Maxwell backs Cloke to turn around his decreasing form, but expresses concern on Melbourne radio station Triple M about the number of Magpies still out of contract and that "we might lose a few others".
August 16, 2012
Dayne Beams signs a three-year contract extension.
At the press conference to announce the deal, director of football Geoff Walsh makes a pointed comment about Beams' selflessness to stay.
"[Beams] joins a number of players who this year have underlined their commitment to the footy club, and who have put the fact they want to be part of something that hopefully produces some great results in their careers over and above everything else, whether that be financial reward or anything else you'd like to talk about," Walsh said.
August 21, 2012
Ben Reid and Alex Fasolo sign two-year contract extensions.
September 11, 2012
Malthouse is appointed as Carlton coach. In his official first press conference for the club, he says the Blues would "absolutely" try and lure Cloke.
The next day, McGuire tells Triple M Malthouse's comments were "inappropriate" given the Pies were still playing finals.
September 26, 2012
Talks re-open between the Clokes and club, five days after the Pies' season ends in the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans.
September 27, 2012
The Pies announce Cloke has agreed to a five-year deal, with conditions on the fifth year.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
