The opportunity to work with and mentor Tom Boyd is one of the main reasons out-of-favour Collingwood forward Travis Cloke wants to join the Western Bulldogs.
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After Pies coach Nathan Buckley dropped him to the VFL three times in 2016, Cloke has made it clear he wants to finish his playing career at Whitten Oval.
He said he hoped to be told next week he would be joining the Bulldogs, but that the deal was not yet done.
Cloke said he would like to work with Boyd, a former No.1 draft pick who has faced significant scrutiny since the Dogs recruited him from Greater Western Sydney on a lucrative contract, but who played well on the weekend.
The older man said Boyd had been unlucky to miss out on the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the grand final.
"I've taken a bit of an interest in his football over the last few years, since he made the move to the Dogs, it's been well publicised, the pressure that he's under," Cloke said.
"A reason why I'd love to go to the Dogs is I'd love to work with him, obviously he's got so much potential and I'd love to help him out where I can.
"I could probably learn a thing or two after the weekend too from him, some of his marking, some of his work was fantastic."
Since the Bulldogs won the premiership, questions have been raised about what an ageing Cloke could offer the team.
He has said he would be willing to halve his pay for a contract with the Western Bulldogs.
"I'm really making this move for myself and my football, I want to enjoy myself," he said.
He said watching Beveridge give his premiership medal to injured captain Bob Murphy was one of the best moments he had seen in the game for a long time.
Cloke said he had been picturing himself playing with the Dogs as they played the Swans.
He was impressed by how they used the ball cleanly and the way they played as a team.
"I'm a very jealous footballer of any side that plays in the grand final, after being there in 2010 and 2011 I get very jealous and very envious," he said.
Cloke is getting married to his partner Rebecca on New Year's Eve and revealed Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire would not be attending.
"He was the first one to send one back and he said no, so I was a bit upset," he laughed.
