Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley hasn’t spent any time pondering Travis Cloke’s future beyond a possible AFL recall on Sunday.
Cloke, who hasn’t played for the Magpies since Anzac Day, has been included in a 25-man squad for Sunday’s match against Port Adelaide.
The key forward is speculated to be considering his options next season, but Buckley isn’t interested in such talk.
“I’ve made a point over the last probably eight weeks, not to read the papers as much as I might have otherwise,” Buckley told reporters on Thursday.
“There’s a lot of opinion, a lot of speculation and really that takes place outside of our reality.
“It’s not something I’ve spent five seconds (on).”
The 12th-placed Magpies lost three players to injury – Darcy Moore (collarbone), Taylor Adams (hamstring), Alex Fasolo (shoulder) – while adding Cloke, Ben Sinclair, Brent Macaffer, Jarrod Witts, Jonathon Marsh and Matthew Goodyear.
Port, in 10th spot with five wins and five losses, named Alipate Carlile, who hasn’t played since breaking a wrist in round two, in a 25-man squad to be trimmed later Friday.