The Adam Treloar contract saga has been resolved.
Collingwood will pay the in the vicinity of $1.5 million over the next five years to watch Treloar play for the Western Bulldogs.
The Pies last month traded Treloar and two second-round picks to the Bulldogs in exchange for the Dogs’ pick 14 and a future second-round selection after a desperate campaign to force him out.
The trade was agreed inside the final minute of the trade period, but the two clubs have been haggling over who picks up the bill for the midfielder, who had agreed to push money back at Collingwood.
The Dogs have refused to budge on their initial offer to Treloar - $600,000 a year for five years. But it’s understood they have agreed to front-end Treloar’s contract to ease the pay pressure at Collingwood.
Ultimately, however, the Pies will have to make up the $1.5 million difference between the deals given they were due to pay Treloar $900,000 a season until 2025 had he stayed in black and white.
Collingwood was keen to get the long-running dispute settled before facing its members in its annual forum on Monday night.
The resolution puts a full stop on one of the messiest player exits for some time.
Treloar last month confirmed SEN.com.au’s exclusive report that Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told him senior teammates wanted him to leave the club.
Buckley publicly denied it only for Treloar to lift the lid on the shocking lengths Collingwood went to to force him out.
“That was told to me in no uncertain way,” Treloar said.
“That did hurt because I know how close I am with the players and to be told that when I don’t think that’s the truth and to be told that there’s some players who don’t want you there when I know the majority love me and care for me, that did hurt a bit.
“I just don’t think that was the truth. I don’t think that was the reality.
“They were adamant about moving me on and no matter how they were going to go about it that was going to happen. It was a fight up until the end because I wanted to stay at Collingwood.
“I think they were up for a fight to move me on and anything was going to be said to move me on. I didn’t think that was the truth.”
“I’ve spoken to a number of players and the majority of players have sent me messages of love and support.”
SEN.com.au also exclusively revealed that Treloar’s wife Kim Ravaillion was resuming her netball career with the Queensland Firebirds next year, with the couple content to have a long-distance relationship in 2021.
Ravaillion’s netball comeback was used by Collingwood to force Treloar out as it struggled with a building salary cap.