Despite being edged out of Olympic Park during Collingwood's messy 2020 off-season, Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar has claimed that he still holds "love" for his former mentor, Nathan Buckley, and the club itself.
The 29-year-old was made to prematurely move on from the Magpies five years ahead of schedule, with the split between player and club appearing bitter to those outside of the Woods' four walls.
While Treloar and Buckley are yet to have spoken since the young father made his way to Whitten Oval ahead of the Dogs' grand final run last year, the latter stated in late February that he held hopes of rekindling the pair's frayed relationship.
“I still haven’t been able to sit down with ‘Ads’ [Treloar]. Now that may or may not happen. I’d be up for it, but it needs to be something that he’s comfortable with as well," Buckley revealed via his role with SEN.
“He’s got a full life, a young family, and at a new club full of football commitments. “If and when the time is right. I’d love to connect with 'Ads' again.”
In response, Treloar opened up to Josh Gabelich of AFL Media by stating that he too was open to reopening dialogue with Buckley.
"There definitely will be a time when we talk and it will be normal. We will probably brush over what happened, but it will be kind of how's your life going? Because I know there's been a bit happening in his life and there's been quite a bit happening in my life," Treloar stated.
The 2018 Anzac medallist explained that holding a grudge against the Collingwood legend was not in his nature and that, in fact, he still owned a genuine affection for the 49-year-old.
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"I just wish when I come up and when 'Bucks' comes up to talk it wasn’t asked because there is going to be a time that we do talk because that love and care that I do have for him is always going to be there; it's never not going to be there," Treloar continued.
"Look past everything that’s happened – the trade and everything – there was a time when mentally I was really struggling and I will always appreciate the love and support and the care that he gave me.
"There will be a time when we talk. Hopefully, when that time comes there will be no more questions because the questions are just unnecessary. I'm not salty towards anything; I love this footy club; I love the Collingwood footy club; I appreciate my time there."
The three-club star also expressed his gratitude for both his former coach and club, as well as pulling the curtain back further on just how deep his passion for the Pies still runs.
"When the trade happened, I spoke out here [Whitten Oval] for the first time; I had nothing but love and care for 'Bucks' and it is still there, obviously, because it was such a fond period that time I spent at the footy club that I look back on. I'm extremely grateful for being there," Treloar delineated.
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"The amount of support that he gave me – I had my challenges there; I had a tough couple of years there where I was mentally struggling and I was very open and honest with that and he was there – he was someone that I would go to and lean on and speak to. It was something that I loved and appreciated and cherished.
"It's funny, people have been commenting and sending me private messages saying: get over it, move on. I have moved on; I don’t hold any resentment; I don’t hold any grudges; there is nothing that I hold against anyone there. I love the footy club. I love everyone there. There's [sic] players there that I wish all the best. I still find myself watching from afar half barracking for them because there is a lot of me that has a connection there with them."
Across his first season at the Kennel, Treloar was able to work through the lingering struggles attached to his forced departure, finishing his campaign a win shy of a premiership medallion and with averages of 23.2 disposals, 4.3 tackles and 3.2 clearances each week.
With Buckley's 27-year tenure with the Collingwood Football Club no longer intact, the former partners will not meet during 2022 in a professional sense.
Still, with Treloar's goodwill and sound relationships with those plying their trade under new steward Craig McRae still bound, the Bulldogs' meeting with those clad in black and white stripes will still take on special significance.
The Victorian clubs are only scheduled to meet once this season, with the battle between Treloar's present and past to take place on Friday, May 13 at Marvel Stadium in Round 9.
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