Jason Cloke is not a forward

Damien · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:14 pm

Seems to me that our forward line does not function at all when Clokey is down there. He is clearly not confident with his kicking for goal so what is the point of having him as a marking target close to the big sticks.

On Friday my mind was taken back to the Geelong game last year whn they played all over us. Same thing happened.

Keep Clokey in the backline where he has shown his worth consistently. With presti still to get some match fitness and Wakelin likely to be missing this week he has to show some accountability as a true key position backman.

Natalie · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Location: Victoria

Agree with you Damien.
Clokey seemed a little uncomfortable and awkward down forward on Friday, seemed to be playing more defensively, which is what he'd be used to.
Someone on White Line Fever last night queried Josh as to why Cloke was playing down forward and why Mick didn't move him to the backline sooner. Josh's response was that Cloke used to play down forward.
He's better off down back, spoiling, punching etc as his kicking isn't flash for goal.

Go_The_Mighty_Magpies · Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Melbourne

I agree with both of you I think Cloke is much better off at half back I was surprised that he was in the forward line on friday

AGE · Joined: 06 Sep 2002 Location: Docking Bay 94

Agreed!
Cloke running aroud the forward line for 2nad a bit qtrs, when on the otherside of the ground, Malthouse should have realised..........

James Turd, Cupido Stupido or PrettyBoy...
Clokey take your pick

Go_The_Mighty_Magpies · Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Melbourne

clokey could clean up the lot of them, to bad he wasnt there to do so on friday

grims · Joined: 13 Mar 2003

no offence to cloke cause i think he's a great player, but he is not suited to any of those players.

dimo · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: Melbourne

He should be left running around half back were he is at this best.

d9 tank · Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Location: Victoria

couldnt agree more, I never want to see him up forwards again.

he's been great down back so why tamper with it. leave the scoring to Ant, Taz, Fraz, Molly, Dids and (insert another forward here, Leon when in side). As a forward six they need to become more settled together IMO which can only be helped by playing together more.

Greg J · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 12:05 pm

It was time for Clokey to learn a few more tricks.

The good coaches would no longer let him play as a loose man, but instead matched him up with someone who would try and drag him as far away from the action as possible. Not much have Clokey in the backline if he is not going to see much of the ball, is there. Better to put hum up forward, until Josh starts hitting his straps again, and for when Josh goes into the ruck.

drew1602 · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: Northcote Victoria

The biggest problem I saw with Cloke in the forward was that he continued to play like a back liner. He continually brought his man to a marking contest when Tarrant or Rocca would normally have been one out.

In defence he is brilliant at jumping into a marking contest and spoilling with a punch. In attack his instinct to get to the making contest takes over and he inevitably makes it very difficult for making forwards.

One cant question his endevour...and I am sure MM knows what he doing.