Geraldton Buccaneers cut ties with Fletcher Klasztorny due to concerns over his commitment to the team

The Geraldton Buccaneers have parted ways with forward Fletcher Klasztorny following concerns over his commitment to the team. Klasztorny has been with the team since he signed to the Buccaneers in late 2021, and was a member of their 2023 NBL1 West championship side. The 26-year-old was previously an avid footballer, and was looking to suit up for Brigades during the 2024 season when possible. Now he has been cut from the Buccs, having not travelled with the side to Perth at the weekend. The Buccaneers faced a double-header against Warwick and Kalamunda, while Klasztorny stayed in Geraldton and played for Brigades’ league side in their first match of the season against Chapman Valley. Buccs coach Dayle Joseph said they had an agreement about Klasztorny playing football before the season, but it did not work out how they had pictured. “I didn’t have a problem with football fitting around the basketball. We had an arrangement around that, and that wasn’t how things turned out,” Joseph said. “It’s not the fact that he played, it’s the fact of the reasons he gave for not playing.” Geraldton were already looking light on numbers at the weekend, with Johny Narkle sidelined with injury and Bob Griechen out of the country. “A little disappointing, more the fact that we’d spoken about it early on in the season when the football thing got brought up,” he said. “We spoke about how we could make it work together . . . it’s just the fact that it interferes a little bit with what we’re trying to achieve as well.” The forward had re-signed for another year before the season and appeared in just two games after working his way back from injury before he was dropped. “I just think his commitment to the team — a team that’s 100 per cent committed and that’s what it takes to win,” Joseph said. “But you can’t have one guy off doing his own thing and the other 15 are 100 per cent committed. “I think he understands that as well . . . I can’t let it affect the rest of the team. “Fletch would be a big part of that. I think he’s an integral part of our team and to help us get to where we want to be.” While disappointed in the outcome, Joseph believes the Buccs’ parting ways with Klasztorny will work out best for the player as his focus now shifts to football. “I think it was probably best for both of us,” he said. “It might have made it a bit easier for him and he might be quite relieved.” Brigades president Dean Pascoe said the club welcomed Klazstorny when he had time to play, which they understood would not be frequent. “Our doors are open for Fletch . . . my understanding is that he’s not always going to be able to make every game — he has work commitments,” he said. “He just wanted to get into footy for some extra fitness . . . he happened to be in our best 22.” Klazstorny declined to comment.