The great Travis Cloke debate

[Woods]

From the captain's mouth:

Pendlebury said the difference in the side in recent weeks was reflected in the fact Travis Cloke was not yet back playing senior football again.

"It's hard because he is such a big name externally – it's Travis Cloke and he is not playing senior footy – but internally he is treated the same as everyone else," Pendlebury said.

"He was not playing the role we needed him to at AFL level so go back to VFL like everyone else and work on your role. And the last few weeks he has been getting better, but that doesn't mean he comes back in because he is Travis Cloke. He needs to show the match committee he can do this 100 percent of the time like Coxy is doing and Darcy is doing and Jesse is doing and do it to a level better than them.

"We are in a good position now in the last two weeks because probably a month ago if Clokey played the game he did in the VFL at the weekend he would come straight back in because we were that bad. Now there is that pressure. Marley Williams is back in the VFL, Tyson Goldsack is back in the VFL where a month ago they would play half a game and be up the next week."

Quite an insightful piece by Mike Gleeson, see (paywall free): http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/afl/collingwoods-scott-pendlebury-thought-nathan-buckley-was-a-nutter-buckley-thought-pendlebury-was-aloof-20160527-gp5l3c.html

[qldmagpie67]

I'm not concerned about his radio chat. I would have been more concerned if he said he was happy playing seconds that would have meant he's given up.
Let's not forget why he was dropped
He wasn't dropped because he wasn't kicking goals and kicking points he was dropped because he attitude and work rate and team ethos wasn't at the desired level.
He's run into a tsunami of sorts as Cox & Whit have played well since coming in and his and the seconds form hasn't been electrifying
Yes last week was a decent game but he has to show he can do it week in week out.
Pendles summed it up well it's because his name is Travis Cloke it's getting media attention
Look he will come back in at some stage as the season progresses nothing surer.
Moore or Cox will need a rest at some stage and we will need his experience if we make any sort of play for the 8. Not even Buckley is that stubborn he wouldn't pick Cloke if we are w chance of making the 8 in a couple weeks time.
We are 2 wins and % out at the moment. Win today adm it's 1 win & % with matches to come that are against teams above us and at our best they are winnable
There is always the option to play either Moore or White back if required and that would free up a spot forward for Cloke
I'm actually not against White going back when we play sides like North who play 3 big talls forward.
He needs to show the hunger for the contest and do the little things that Moore and Cox are doing to mean his spot back.
Also I think bucks made a statement for the whole squad in dropping Cloke that no one is bigger than the team. Going forward that's a lesson to all players

[eddiesmith]

Good to see the forward line firing and kicking accurately without him...

[Mugwump]

[AN_Inkling]

We need him. Simple as that. Don't have a single quality tall forward without him. Get your head right and make your way back Trav.

[Mugwump]

[RudeBoy]

[Bob Sugar]

With Moore injured we simply don't have a choice, has to play this week.

[doriswilgus]

I think he would have been handy today.The forward line looked a bit directionless today.

[Dave The Man]

Well he is in because of Default.

This could be his Last Chance he might get

[Dave The Man]

[Piesnchess]

With young darcy now injured, he has to come back in now, for the Port game, hes a must inclusion now.

[Collingwood Crackerjack]

The club has a simple choice to make:

Back Travis

OR

Track Bavis

[jackcass]

[Pies4shaw]

I'm desperately concerned that our CHF will have become confused by watching the seniors into thinking that the main reasons he was dropped were that he was getting too many kicks, taking too many marks and kicking too many goals.