#32 Travis Cloke

[The Prototype]

In the end none of us really know what has gone on at the club, we can only assess from the comfort of our own homes. The club has said they want Cloke to stay, but will trade him if he really wants to go.

Cloke has issues that the club have tried to fix, it seemed like they weren't going to be fixed and now maybe a new club will help him. I think the Dogs don't really need him, I believe a fully fit Dogs team is a pretty strong one, hell a half injured one is pretty strong look at how they took apart the Hawks.

But we will have to see, I think the Dogs have enough firepower when fit to be a challenger. Maybe Cloke can help, maybe he can't. But based on everything we have seen and know without being inside the club, they have done all they can do help Cloke and want him there, he don't wanna be there.

Whether it's a need for a fresh start to fix himself, or he feels like he was forced out by sitting in the VFL(most players when they have a form slump get dropped being a premiership player shouldn't have a barring on your spot in a side if you are playing bad.) we just have to accept he's going.

[HAL]

Some of them could be though.

[droversdog65]

Cloke's biggest problem is that there has always been one too many people in his head. His old man is a head job to end all head jobs and has been a thorn in the side of the club for years.

It's a sad truth that dad calls the tune and his son's dance to it.

[5 from the wing on debut]

I'm not having a go at anyone for criticising Bucks, the gameplan, or anything else. All of that is fair game. I've got my criticisms too. For instance, I am skeptical about our apparent plan to recruit a bunch of has beens. I am critical of Buck's seeming unwillingness to embrace the importance of team motivation as part of a coach's arsenal. So, I'm certainly not a blind lollipop brigadier. However, what amazes me are fans who have already written off next season before it's begun. Sure, you're entitled to do that, but seriously I have to wonder what enjoyment you get from following a team you have already decided will be a failure next year. Each to their own. As for me, I expect us to make the 8 and be a chance of a top 4 berth. Unlike you guys I guess, I can't wait for next season to begin Go Pies!

Well I was extremely optimistic for this year but it took about 10 minutes into rd1 to destroy most of that optimism...

This year simply confirmed that Buckley cannot coach, there is something fundamentally wrong with the club that won't be fixed over the off season with the same people in charge and yet to our list what improvements are being made? We have got rid of our dual AA CHF and replacing him with what, Chris Mayne? I am assuming he played backline for half the year because if he is the answer, he kicked 1 more goal than Cloke and played every single game!

Hell we are going to pay him more than Cloke and sign him to a 4 year deal?

There is nothing optimistic on the radar, we aren't attracting anyone who will improve the club, instead going for a bunch of old players who aren't guns, we traded in some good players last year and where did that get us? A year of failure and can't even use good draft pick because we traded it way!

I love this club and so did Clokey, yet he is forced out by our coach who has had 5 years and delivered nothing but failure, the optimism dries up pretty quickly

Going by your avatar Eddie ,i would suggest you have had FAR too many hits to the head and you are delusional and all you can think of his BLAMING someone. Woe is me !! WHO shall OI blame?? The coach will do. I f you looked bit deeper into that "First 10 minutes" of that 1st game and cast your punch addled brain back 10 hrs you would have noticed that a certain low life piece of scum,mascarading as a news paper reporter,totally shattered the young team that were besieged by the press,boarding and disembarking the plane that took them to the city that had only 24 hrs previously changed the playing venue.
Those 2 things would quite clearly have dented the confidence of any team and maybe should have if the low life piece of scum had have named the other teams involved in the ALLEGED drug taking over summer, but not long after your"First 10 minutes,our CHAMPION player totally shattered his foot,ending his playing career and not too long after that,one of our more creative and X factor players almost broke his neck while trying his best to take mark and entertain the brain dead Buckley haters.But HEY!!!! That's no excuse is it? Neither were the 13 senior players who we had out of the game for the majority of the season!! NAH!!! let's get a new coach. I hear Mathew Knight may be looking for a gig!! Maybe Bomber could come on over and bring STANK and co with him.That would be fantastic EH???
Cloke can go and I doubt he will or his Dad will take a backward glance and neither will I .See ya Trav.

Are you saying that reporter wears mascara?

[matrix10]

You are not forced out by the coach if you don't do what the coach asks. Any employer-employee relationship rests on the same premise. I think its very simplistic to think that a) Bucks doesn't like him so he has to go or b) Travis doesn't like Bucks so he wants to go. It's probably down to one sees change as necessary and the other one sees change as unnecessary.

Get out of here with your common sense!!

How dare you try to bring reason to this thread.

Shame Cam! Shame!

[Cam]

You are not forced out by the coach if you don't do what the coach asks. Any employer-employee relationship rests on the same premise. I think its very simplistic to think that a) Bucks doesn't like him so he has to go or b) Travis doesn't like Bucks so he wants to go. It's probably down to one sees change as necessary and the other one sees change as unnecessary.

Get out of here with your common sense!!

How dare you try to bring reason to this thread.

Shame Cam! Shame!

With a tagline like that Matrix you should run for the Senate!

[think positive]

Fair enough TP. I realise you are a fair dinkum Pies supporter. I share your frustration with our sub par performances these past few years, but I am genuinely optimistic about the young list Bucks has assembled and I can't wait to see them quickly rise up the ladder next year.

Cheers mate. The list excites me too. It's certainly capable of better than the results so far

[Magpie Jack]

Cloke's biggest problem is that there has always been one too many people in his head. His old man is a head job to end all head jobs and has been a thorn in the side of the club for years.

It's a sad truth that dad calls the tune and his son's dance to it.

I reckon Cloke has 2 problems. He's a crap set shot for goal and he has a crap coach. It will be interesting to see if fixing one will fix the other. If Beveridge can improve Clokes conversion rate by about 20% the Dogs will probably win next years flag.

[qldmagpie67]

I don't think the dogs will be wanting Cloke after all. There in a qualifying final one step from the big dance so why add a player who
1 - Is 32
2 - Is a average shot of goal
3 - Has been mentally fragile the majority of his career

The have murphy coming back aged over 30. Boyd likely to stay aged over 30 and Picken over 30
I think there interest was sparked by Stringer being acting like a spoilt brat but after his performance on the weekend the penny may have dropped.
Cloke doesn't improve there side they have T Boyd developing nicely and they won't want to take games away from him.
There list age profile is about spot on now so adding Cloke just doesn't appear to fit what they have been building for a few years.
Don't be surprised if they go very cold on him and he has to scramble to find a new home or take a big slice of humble pie and stay a pie

[5 from the wing on debut]

Cloke's biggest problem is that there has always been one too many people in his head. His old man is a head job to end all head jobs and has been a thorn in the side of the club for years.

It's a sad truth that dad calls the tune and his son's dance to it.

I reckon Cloke has 2 problems. He's a crap set shot for goal and he has a crap coach. It will be interesting to see if fixing one will fix the other. If Beveridge can improve Clokes conversion rate by about 20% the Dogs will probably win next years flag.

Cloke has more than 2 problems. He can't mark like he used to because he can't run to space like he used to. He is not a strong pack mark either so he is severely limited. All this means that he will have the ball less than he used to.

My fear is that the Dogs will go cold on the deal and back out.

The only flag that Cloke has even a remote chance of playing in next year is in the VFL. The year after that it will be in the 'burbs with his brothers.

[droversdog65]

Cloke's biggest problem is that there has always been one too many people in his head. His old man is a head job to end all head jobs and has been a thorn in the side of the club for years.

It's a sad truth that dad calls the tune and his son's dance to it.

I reckon Cloke has 2 problems. He's a crap set shot for goal and he has a crap coach. It will be interesting to see if fixing one will fix the other. If Beveridge can improve Clokes conversion rate by about 20% the Dogs will probably win next years flag.

Lol crap coach ?? - just who do you imagine was Cloke's coach for the majority of his career?? Go back and look at his conversion rate in the 2 GF's of '10.

[mattdally]

Cloke is 29? He would more than happily slot into their forward line with Crameri, Dickson and Boyd.

[Lazza]

I reckon Cloke has 2 problems. He's a crap set shot for goal and he has a crap coach. It will be interesting to see if fixing one will fix the other. If Beveridge can improve Clokes conversion rate by about 20% the Dogs will probably win next years flag.

Yeah right, shoot Buck's at any given opportunity.

Geez you white ants are the bloody pits...........

[eddiesmith]

I don't think the dogs will be wanting Cloke after all. There in a qualifying final one step from the big dance so why add a player who
1 - Is 32
2 - Is a average shot of goal
3 - Has been mentally fragile the majority of his career

The have murphy coming back aged over 30. Boyd likely to stay aged over 30 and Picken over 30
I think there interest was sparked by Stringer being acting like a spoilt brat but after his performance on the weekend the penny may have dropped.
Cloke doesn't improve there side they have T Boyd developing nicely and they won't want to take games away from him.
There list age profile is about spot on now so adding Cloke just doesn't appear to fit what they have been building for a few years.
Don't be surprised if they go very cold on him and he has to scramble to find a new home or take a big slice of humble pie and stay a pie

Try 29, but hey we are fixing all our problems with a 32 year old on more money than Cloke and some want a 38 year old...

He will go well with a team with quick ball movement and good skills, much easier to be a key forward if there is space and ball delivered in front of you instead of Collingwoods slow slow play which allows teams to flood back then they kick it over your head because no one in the team can kick for shit!

[Lazza]

Try 29, but hey we are fixing all our problems with a 32 year old on more money than Cloke and some want a 38 year old...

He will go well with a team with quick ball movement and good skills, much easier to be a key forward if there is space and ball delivered in front of you instead of Collingwoods slow slow play which allows teams to flood back then they kick it over your head because no one in the team can kick for shit!

The proof will be in the eating of the pudding..

Not fully convinced that the reasons you gave were entirely accurate for his loss of form over the past two seasons.
I have always been an unabashed Cloke fan but geez, even YOU must admit Cloke was a shadow of his former great self this season.