Collingwood’s Travis Cloke is happy to endure a season of AFL contract speculation after Essendon’s Michael Hurley says he re-signed now to avoid it.

Delighted Bombers coach James Hird said 21-year-old Hurley, signed until the end of 2017, would eventually rank alongside club greats Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher.

He said the key forward was an emerging strong leader who might eventually succeed Jobe Watson as captain.

He added Hurley did not demand as much money as he could have, to ensure there was salary cap room left to re-sign teammates.

Next on that list is 23-year-old ruck-forward Paddy Ryder, who the coach labelled as important as any player at the club.

“We’re hoping Paddy will re-sign very soon as well,” Hird said.

While the Bombers believe they are close to ensuring Ryder can not be poached by Greater Western Sydney, and were always confident of retaining Hurley, Hird admitted waiting for his signature had been a trial.

“The longer it went on, you just have that little doubt in your mind about what’s going on,” he said.

The Magpies seem consigned to facing that scenario all year with Cloke.

The 25-year-old Magpie, last year’s All Australian centre half-forward, now looms as the obvious GWS key position target.

While Cloke has said ideally he will stay at Collingwood long-term, he intends to delay contract talks until post-season.

“I’d like to play my season of football and work it out from there,” Cloke told the Nine Network’s AFL Footy Show.

That stance mirrors those of past GWS or Gold Coast targets who ended up confirming moves at the end of the past two seasons.

But despite speculation he could earn more than $1 million per season with the Giants, the Collingwood premiership player was adamant he was not already weighing up an offer.

“I look forward to answering the questions differently every week, but when it comes down to it, I honest to God would like to stay as a Pie,” he said.

Hurley said he had had no interest in heading elsewhere, given his family ties in Melbourne and strong bond with the Bombers.

He said signing quickly to avoid a media saga faced by the likes of GWS recruit Tom Scully had been a priority.

“Towards the end of last year their families started getting brought into it and I tried to avoid that,” he said.

Hird said the Bombers had no reservations about handing Hurley a five-year deal, given not only his talent but his character.

“Even if he has setbacks, even if he has injuries, even if he doesn’t play that well, because of the competitive nature he has got in him, he’ll fight through that to be the player we all hope he will be,” Hird said.