Cloke.

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

Remember when Cloke used to smash anyone who tried tackling him?

Remember when he used to rag doll every KB in the comp?

Remember when he used to be consistent?

Based on 2014 form he isn't worth half what we're paying him, I can't remember the last time he burst through a tackle or even took a tackler on, I agree he's being played out of position at FF but I think there's more to it than that, he's been consistently beaten by younger opponents this year, he's a shadow on his former self IMO.

So, what up with him?

Az · Joined: 25 Sep 2013

Maybe he's carrying a few niggles like Swanny this season. Over his whole career he's been extremely durable and played a lot of games. He's only 27 and he's passed 200 games already. Fair to say he's had to carry quite the load these past few years.

Az · Joined: 25 Sep 2013

And it doesn't help he's been especially raped by the scumpires this season.

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

3rd degree · Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Location: John Wren's tote

Yep it has sad to see the big fella go backwards , he has had a couple great games , but has also been found out on occassions. His round 2 game against Sydney is the aggression i want from him all the time!

MagpieMad · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:12 pm

maybe the free kicks against him for doing any of those acts listed in the OP has him not doing them.
there has been a clamping down on Cloke by the maggots over the last three years or so, go back and watch some games and watch the maggots stick it to him and then march him 50m for complaining, they hang on it till he says something then bang!. umpired differently to every other player in the game.

Damien · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:37 pm

Travs problem is lack of support around him. It's not injuries (well it wasn't) or lack of commitment. He just needs some help.

MAGPIEAVENGER · Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Location: Narre Warren

When Cloke gets consistent/quality support that is when we will all see him at his damaging best.

Being double teamed every week is going to take its toll.

He is worth every dollar

nomadjack · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Location: Essendon

Nowhere near enough support because of Reid's injuries. Also carried back injury into early part of season and was reportedly relying on jabs to get up in middle of the season...just another factor in a season from hell... Sad

Rick · Joined: 11 May 2008

Our inability to clear from the centre and kick to his advantage when going forward has hurt his output.

I feel sorry for the guy. He's our most important player and relied on too heavily to kick a winning score, but we do him no favours.

He's forever having to stop, prop and forced into a wrestle due to our poor disposal. Or it's kicked 3m too short.

I'd like to see Bucks going up to the big fella and tell him to go into the centre and clear the thing forward because no one else can.

I reckon he could be just as damaging as Roughead or Pavlich when they go on the ball.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:06 pm

I think Cloke is fine, he's had a bad year.. ok. But it goes a lot deeper then that, the players around him, the team strat... many things... I blame other things more then I do him... he's a monster, he will monster again.. that's a sure thing.

eddiesmith · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:18 pm

Probably sick of leading, beating his opponent for pace only for the kick to go over his head to his opponent who is 5m behind him...Then when he can actually have a 3 on 1 contest and he brings it to the ground, you will never find a crumber in black and white!

It would be a horrible place to play the Collingwood forward line these days

McMonkey · Joined: 17 Sep 2012

Yep Cloke will be OK. He had a horror start to the year, couldn�t clunk the marks he usually would though he has always been an ordinary kick for goal.

He worked his way into the season though as it went on.

He gets absolutely murdered by the umps, if he got half the frees Nick Reiwoldt got when he was umpires pet I�d be happy.

I think Cloke's biggest setback this year has been due to our underperforming midfield. Our delivery into the forward 50 has been awful. We are also a weak contested footy side, so the ball rarely gets down there quickly and accurately, hence he is rarely one out and/or on the lead.

For the most part, if our midfield finds its mojo, Cloke will be himself once again, our defence will get some protection too. I hope the rejuvenation of our midfield is priority number 1 in the off season.

Cuthbert Collingwood · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:27 pm

I'd say we had at least 20 decent quarters in the first half of the year but since then we'd be lucky to have had 10. That's about one quarter a week that the ball has been consistently and fluidly getting into to the forward line. It certainly doesn't help big Trav, despite his obvious form slump at the beginning of the season