Trade Cloke and Brown

[droversdog65]

[Stupied]

The logical solution then would be to place Cloke back at CHF where he's the most damaging, not trade him away and have no quality power forward in the team.

I loved the spread of goal kickers on Thursday, but we were running against a depleted defence, and if we learned anything from last year, we can't rely on the likes of White to fill the void on a consistent basis.

As for Brown, people go from one extreme to the other. He's a gun, he's a spud. The truth is, while he's not the best defender in the league, he's solid, consistent, and when fit he wins his battle on game day more often than not.
Given the inexperience in our backline already, getting rid of another experienced, consistent senior player down there would be madness.
Watch the game on Thursday again. He was beaten early, but as the game wore on and he gained confidence in his shoulder he got better. There's no reason he can't get back to his previous form.

[Damien]

The OP's comments about Brown aren't without merit but the Cloke analysis is way off. Cloke is the go to man more often than not because we don't have another big marking target. Hopefully a fit Ben Reid can be that man. Like all big leading forwards he demands space which is perfectly understandable but what we lack is crumbers who can capitalise on the ones he doesn't take and convert into goals. Blair can't do it. Fasolo couldn't last year cos when fit he was in the Backline. Let's hope that 'education' is now complete and he returns permanently to the forward line wher he can do some damage on the scoreboard. Pat Karnezis looks promising and I'm prepared to give Jesse White one more season to show he can be an effective forward. Throw in Jamie Elliot who is a gun and Our forward potency should improve from last year but the proof will be in the pudding.

[Tannin]

I wouldn't mind seeing Cloke play on a wing.

Seriously: he's got a fantastic tank for a big bloke, he can cover the ground, and out there in space he's be a very, very hard player to match up on. Yep, if you put a small on him that player could run off him when the ball is going forward, but it only takes one turnover and you have the big bloke with the golden mitts marking anything that comes his way, and roosting it 60 metres forward deep into our 50, where you play the likes of Elliott, Fasolo, Gault, and Broomhead - all players who can kick for goal and score more often than not.

[HAL]

I understand. I haven't heard anything like that before. And then what happened?

[think positive]

[Tannin]

Or possibly hit 'em in the laces, chest out

[rand corp]

Clokes best is still certainly good enough, he was not at his best last year for reasons unknown, (injury?)
It is not that he is not a big game player he has played well against top opposition and in finals.

The problem is his kicking consistency and the fact that when he does have an off day it drops way off -well below acceptable.
Obviously still best 22 yet this is a telling year.

What he really needs is a chop out, something he did not get at all from White last year and has not really had since Leigh Browne.

A better White and improving Gault or even a fit PK could do wonders for Cloke's game this year.

Brown, has been very unlucky with knee and then shoulder injuries, his 2010 GF replay cannot ever be undervalued, he slaughtered one of the best in the business on the biggest day of the year.
Must be given this season to at least to see if he can get back near his best footy. Plus, we have lost an awful lot of experience from our backline in the past couple of seasons, he is an elder statesman of the backline now and until players like Langdon, Frost, Scharenberg, et al mature he is needed.

Last year we lost Heater, Maxy retired, Hertier was up on a wing, then left us this year, Reid perpetually injured, Toovey out most of the year, Brown out most of the year. That is devastating to anyone's finals chances and I wouldn't be cleaning out anymore experience just yet, especially before we see if Reid can continue his career or not.

[Macedonian Marvel #35]

Brown is still only 26 remember. That's still a fairly good age bracket to be sitting in, and he's just completed his first preseason in 5 years. That will pay off majorly once he clears off the cob webs of the last handful of seasons. I think by seasons end he will be a lock choice for our full back spot again....well I'm hoping so

[yin-YANG]

So sem started supporting the Pies after won the 53 flag… seems like he jumped on the bandwagon!

Re the comments… Both Brown and Cloke were a big part of our flag and our strong performance for most of 2011 - so they can play top footy.

I think putting Brown in the leadership group was a good move - he needs to have a stellar year on the field because young Frost is set to take his spot as the FB. The reality of footy however is that you need extras - some of our big guys will get injured… and having Frost, Brown, Keefe and possibly Reid as back talls is needed to cover the inevitable injuries.

Brown is not very flexible and has limitations as a player but can certainly play a role for the Pies and do it well… and right now he needs/deserves some support after a long lay-off due to injuries - hopefully our supporters can do just that!

[Mossi]

[Culprit]

Have to agree. Cloke's kicking is a killer. Brown shows plenty and delivers little. In saying that, unless you have better replacements there's no point booting them.

[jackcass]

Shorty answer... Pass!

[MJ23]

[droversdog65]

Seems like the consensus is give Cloke a roving commission up the ground and hope for the best with Brown returning to pre injury like form.

Can't say I disagree, it's just a pity the big bloke never developed a reliable kick for goal.