Travis Cloke - What role will he play in our team?

[Raw Toast]

Apart from the first two finals, our forward line functioned best this year when Redpath was roaming far and wide, as well as straightening us up with a target at the top of the 50.

Cloke's got a fair bit to prove to the Pies, and I'd expect him to be able to do the Redpath role at a minimum. The upside is significantly higher - his engine has been very good, he's been an elite contested mark, and should also be able to help out in the ruck a bit, and opponents won't want to be in between him and the ball.

We've got him for nothing basically, and at worst he can be useful depth that helps limit the amount that the young bodies of Cordy and Boyd are smashed. At best he could be a forward version of Brian Lake who looked relatively cooked at the end of his time with us but was clearly rejuvenated with the move. I think Cloke will enjoy being at a club where he's not under a heap of pressure, and an environment that is both committed to excellence and also to enjoying that excellence.

If (and it is a significant if) he can do the right things defensively and keep his work-rate up with that, he might end up making us look back very fondly to this trade period. He'll know how hard we expect our forwards to work at pressuring the opposition and keeping the ball locked in (and I presume Malthouse was pretty uncompromising with that).

I wouldn't mind him being isolated a bit at the top of the goal-square either

[craigsahibee]

That's where he played his best football and he says he's been at the same weight for 5 years (102 kgs).

High forward one side, Crameri high forward the other, we don't have to hesitate when bringing the ball out of defence, our ball movement actually gets quicker and we never have to worry about the second tall defender chopping in front of Boyd again.

Stringer gets the 3rd / 4th defender, I like that.

He will be more important structurally than what can be defined by statistics.

[Smads57]

I'm certainly not expecting Cloke to play the role that he was designated to perform at Coll. and hence expecting him to 'add' to our fwd line mix especially with Crammers coming back. I'm happy with this selection and if he take out .backmen like Rance, Hurley, Davis, Frawley etc, then our second string fwd line players (who led us to a premiership) will have easier days at the office in 2017/18

[LostDoggy]

Excuse my ignorance but did we sign Clokey for 2 or 3 years?
Oh yeah and welcome to the Kennel Big Fella

[Flamethrower]

Scapegoat when the forward line misfires.

Saviour when it clicks.

[comrade]

Scapegoat when the forward line misfires.

Saviour when it clicks.

Tom Boyd and Jake Stringer just breathed a sigh of relief.

[bulldogtragic]

Trav also mentioned that he thought people were way too harsh on Tom Boyd and he wanted to work with him in a few areas.

1. On media pressure, and living and working through it.
2. On his forward craft. Where to run, when to lead and how to use his frame to maximum advantage.

I can see Trav being a good off-field and on-field buddy for Tom. Say what you want about him, having that attitude to want to help a young bloke out (was before his GF breakout game) in how to live with huge expectations and more importantly how to impact games and improve his forward craft says a fair bit to me. If he can accelerate Tom's forward craft, and nudge his development a bit quicker up forward that's another great intangible that his stat sheet won't show up.

[craigsahibee]

Trav also mentioned that he thought people were way too harsh on Tom Boyd and he wanted to work with him in a few areas.

1. On media pressure, and living and working through it.
2. On his forward craft. Where to run, when to lead and how to use his frame to maximum advantage.

I can see Trav being a good off-field and on-field buddy for Tom. Say what you want about him, having that attitude to want to help a young bloke out (was before his GF breakout game) in how to live with huge expectations and more importantly how to impact games and improve his forward craft says a fair bit to me. If he can accelerate Tom's forward craft, and nudge his development a bit quicker up forward that's another great intangible that his stat sheet won't show up.

They may have a bit more in common too. Having grown up only a few km's from each other.

[westdog54]

Excuse my ignorance but did we sign Clokey for 2 or 3 years?
Oh yeah and welcome to the Kennel Big Fella

Two.

[GVGjr]

We don't need Cloke to come in and do anything too special but if he shows up fit and willing to work hard, which doesn't appear to be a problem, then providing he can work well the other forwards it should cause match up problems with other teams. The chemistry with the other forwards is the key and not easily gained.

As a side note, the Cloke inclusion means that Boyd is now the Kurt Tippett of our team and while many last year wanted him to be a stay at home forward, his finals exploits this year should win them over now for him to do a lot of ruck work when needed.

I think it's now up to Bevo and the coaches to get his confidence levels up and the rest should fall into place.

[lemmon]

He just has to compete. After the premiership and finals, it's very easy to forget that for the most part our forward line functioned extremely poorly this year.

I hope he straightens us up and hits some bodies when Boyd isn't around. I just want him at contests and halving them for our crumbers, if he wins a few than even better.

One thing I don't think we can overlook is his kicking. Even with all the emphasis we're putting on his fitness, I hope he's doing a power of work on set shots. Misses from 20 metres arent acceptable in big games...ask Luke Breust.

[KT31]

We don't need Cloke to come in and do anything too special but if he shows up fit and willing to work hard, which doesn't appear to be a problem, then providing he can work well the other forwards it should cause match up problems with other teams. The chemistry with the other forwards is the key and not easily gained.

As a side note, the Cloke inclusion means that Boyd is now the Kurt Tippett of our team and while many last year wanted him to be a stay at home forward, his finals exploits this year should win them over now for him to do a lot of ruck work when needed.

I think it's now up to Bevo and the coaches to get his confidence levels up and the rest should fall into place.

I was one of those who advocated Tom only play forward and after his brilliant finals campaign I have admit I am now happy for him to play a Tippett like role (only Tom does it heaps better).
I am still in the camp of Campbell coming into the side for most ruck duties to be backed up by Roughie playing down back and Tom up forward.
I think this gives us heaps of options and flexibility when needed.

[Rocket Science]

As a side note, the Cloke inclusion means that Boyd is now the Kurt Tippett of our team ...

Must you be so unkind?

[azabob]

I was one of those who advocated Tom only play forward and after his brilliant finals campaign I have admit I am now happy for him to play a Tippett like role (only Tom does it heaps better).
I am still in the camp of Campbell coming into the side for most ruck duties to be backed up by Roughie playing down back and Tom up forward.
I think this gives us heaps of options and flexibility when needed.

Do you see Cloke as best 22?

[KT31]

Do you see Cloke as best 22?

I have Campbell ahead at this stage and not sure he is a automatic inclusion, although he is saying the right thing and is very keen for a big preseason I think he will have to do some work to break into the side.
First round against the Pies might see him get over the line on sentiment but I've given up long ago thinking I had any idea about our selection.
Could it be possible if Cloke plays at CHF there may be the chance we have all four tall's play in the same side ?