2012 has been a year of speculation surrounding the playing futures of some of Collingwood’s biggest names but with the announcement of Travis Cloke’s new five-year deal to remain at the Westpac Centre, coupled with Harry O’Brien’s two-year agreement, Walsh says that Collingwood has been able to lock in some of its biggest names.
“We started the year with a number of our top end or key players uncontracted,” Walsh explained.
Watch Geoff Walsh's press conference on CTV in the video above.
“I think the pleasing thing for us will be that all bar Sharrod (Wellingham), off the top of my head, are now committed, and I think that is a testimony to what the players think about the Collingwood Footy Club, how they rate our future both near and mid-term.”
Despite the constant media speculation, Walsh said that Cloke had always wanted to remain at Collingwood.
“The good thing was ….that Travis wanted to be and remain a Collingwood footballer,” Walsh added.
“He certainly he said that all along, his management said that all along, we said that we hoped that was the case. I think that was the thread that allowed us the confidence to think that this was going to get done.”
Walsh echoed similar sentiments about O’Brien who, like Cloke, began his tenure at the Westpac Centre in late 2004.
“He's been a wonderful defender with us for a number of years now. He's a great clubman. He, like the others, always wanted to remain at Collingwood and we were pleased that we were able to get that done as well.”
Cloke and O’Brien have joined Scott Pendlebury, Heath Shaw, Luke Ball, Steele Sidebottom, Alex Fasolo, Ben Reid and Lachlan Keeffe as the club’s re-signings for 2012 to date. Tyson Goldsack is expected to finalise a new deal in the coming days.
One key player who is yet to be contracted for 2013 is Sharrod Wellingham.
The 2010 premiership midfielder is due to return to his home state of Western Australia for a break, but Walsh says that the club has put an offer to the 24-year-old, labelling him a “required player”.
“We've got an offer in front of Sharrod and his management - that offer's been in front of him for a number of weeks.
“I know Sharrod is returning home to WA in the next few days for a bit of a break. His management is based in WA, so I'm sure they'll catch up and we'll get some sort of response but the fact that we've got an offer in front of him would indicate that he's a required player.”
