The great Travis Cloke debate

[What'sinaname]

I reckon Cloke would be killing it with a different coach and a better strategy for getting the ball inside 50. He has lost his confidence and our game plan won't ever help him get it back

[swoop42]

He's been improved the last couple of weeks but let's not forget he's on superstar coin and he's hardly lived up to that the last season and a bit.

[Pies4shaw]

Cloke's career statistical averages are (just under) 11 kicks, (just under) 7 marks, (just under) 3 handballs, (just under) 2 goals, (just under) 1.5 behinds and just under 2 tackles per game.

On Saturday, he had about as close to an average career game as you will ever see from him - a couple more kicks and about a tackle less:

13 kicks, 7 marks, 3 handballs, 2 goals, 1 behind, 1 tackle.

I might add that his game on Saturday was almost an exact replica, statistically, of his game in the 2010 drawn GF - and way better than his game in the GF replay.

I don't really think it is fair to criticise Cloke for not suddenly being better than he has been in the last 11 seasons - especially since he was - for most of those 11 seasons - the number 1 power forward in the competition.

I feel like a cracked record saying so but, in truth, the problems with Collingwood have little, if anything, to do with the form of Travis Cloke.

[Bkash]

Yes the improvement is there, But he still needs to kick the pill in front of the sticks like he is out on the 50.

[jackcass]

[RudeBoy]

I was over him the minute he went of the footy show 4 years ago and mused over the possibility of going to Carlton. We should have shipped him out then. Considering he is such a good mark, over his entire career he's been a massive under achiever. At best, he's an ordinary player now, and at worst he's a liability.

[gurugeoff]

football is a funny business, but if you look at it as a business, the equation should be - ' I have $800,000 plus per season to pay to my key forward'.

Who is the best available one out there to earn this salary? it is unlikely you would come up with Travis Cloke as your answer anymore.

[Pies4shaw]

That may be true - but whoever came up as your answer would have to be paid way in excess of Cloke's contract price, which was, of course, set 4 years ago.

[Bob Sugar]

I've never seen a player fall off the edge so quickly since Nick Daffy, what do we do? what can we do?

IMO he's cooked as a forward, no point persisting with him in that role, IMO he should be made to ruck and ruck all day, give him a few games in the VFL in that role and see what happens.

[stui magpie]

Did you watch the game today?

[Bob Sugar]

[stui magpie]

Fairy Nuff, I was just curious as to what you based your opinion on.

Part of a game seems fair.

[Bob Sugar]

[Pies4shaw]

Quick, sack him. We are just chock full of star KPFs in the seniors.

[John Wren]