AFL club Collingwood blames the exit of 'heartbroken' star Adam Treloar on his netball player WIFE - saying she was the catalyst for his move
AFL club Collingwood has sensationally blamed the disappointing departure of one of its star players on his professional netball player wife.
There was rampant speculation about Adam Treloar's future during the AFL trade period after his wife Kim Ravaillon signed with Super Netball club Queensland Firebirds for next year.
The Magpies sought a possible trade with a Queensland club for their star midfielder so he wouldn't be separated from his wife, who is planning to take their baby daughter Georgie with her.
Despite Treloar's wishes to remain at Collingwood and see out the remaining five years of his contract, he was traded to the Western Bulldogs on the final day of the trade period on Thursday night.
Collingwood list manager Ned Guy has since claimed the Magpies wouldn't have considered moving Treloar if his wife hadn't decided to move north.
Collingwood has traded star midfielder Adam Treloar to the Western Bulldogs. He's pictured with wife Kim Ravaillion at the 2019 Brownlow Medal
'We had some conversations with Adam and (his manager) Tim originally around whether his family was going to move to Queensland and whether he wanted to do that and it evolved from having that conversation to he thought he'd look at another opportunity,' Guy told Fox Footy.
He said the move wouldn't have been considered if Treloar's wife continued her netball career in Victoria.
'That was the catalyst for the discussion. We wouldn't have looked to have that discussion… it wouldn't have evolved from that, I wouldn't have thought, no,' Guy added.
However, Treloar wasn't even sent to a Queensland club near his wife as neither Brisbane nor Gold Coast expressed interest in taking on his whopping contract worth $800,000 a season.
The Magpies were concerned Adam Treloar wouldn't cope with being separated from his wife Kim Ravaillion and baby girl Georgie (pictured together)
Adam Treloar's wife posted a Instagram story regarding his move to the Western Bulldogs
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley described Thursday as one of the toughest days of his career
'Managing contracted players who love the environment out of the club is a lose/lose situation in the short term. The decisions aren't popular but they were necessary,' he tweeted.
Treloar is expected to front the media at his new club on Friday.
The Herald Sun reported close friends say Treloar is brokenhearted to be leaving the Magpies.
Hazell also said Treloar was disappointed 'to get the tap on the shoulder'.
Numerous AFL journalists reported in recent weeks that Collingwood were keen to offload Treloar, amid concerns he'd be unable to cope being away from his young family in 2021.
Adam Treloar (pictured with wife Kim) is said to be brokenhearted about leaving Collingwood
Kim Ravaillion (pictured in Super Netball action) is a talented sportswoman in her own right
Treloar has also been open about his previous anxiety and mental health battles throughout his career and previously credited his partner for helping him find his way through it.
In August 2019 he told Fox Footy: 'If it wasn't for my partner Kimmy, for Nick Maxwell, Bucks, Jacqui who is my psych/really, really good friend and my family, I probably wouldn't be playing footy, to be honest with you.'
Ravaillion, 27, has played 57 games for Australia and previously played the last three Super Netball seasons with Collingwood.
She took 2020 off following the birth of her first child Georgie Olive in March
Collingwood was slammed by past and current players over the Treloar move.
'Would love to chat to some of Ned Guy's former school mates, just wonder how his lunchbox swaps went,' former Collingwood and Carlton star Dale Thomas tweeted.
Treloar was keen to stay at Collingwood, despite the prospect of being separated from his wife and baby girl (pictured together)
Treloar's former GWS teammate Sam Darley added: 'One day all will be revealed but all I can say is Ads is one happy man to be a Western Bulldog but as much as it's a business the way he was treated was embarrassing. Understand it's a business but wow hope it's all told one day.'
The Magpies on Thursday night thanked Treloar for his services and said the trade gave the 27-year-old 'the opportunity to make an impression at his third club'.
'For some time we have held the view that this year's draft represents an excellent opportunity to address some of our needs,' Guy's statement read.
'We think in the short term we can improve from within but we can also now strengthen the profile of our list for the medium and longer term. This deal improves significantly our ability to do that.'
Collingwood claim Treloar wouldn't have been traded if his wife chose remained to stay in Victoria