Cloke.

Brenny · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Location: Westpac Centre

In my opinion Cloke will be fine.

Remember a few years ago Cloke was in the same situation when Dawes wasn't playing.

We, and still do, had a mountain of small players. The large guys will always go to Cloke.

Our saving grace is that White stood up yesterday as the dominant big man and clunked a few marks and kicked a few goals.

If White continues to play as such, then the No.2 defender has to go to him and Cloke will get some space.

Once we add Reid back to the equation, we will be back to normal. But as long as Cloke is taking the best and also the 2nd best defender, he will find it hard.

Effort and work rate is what I want to see and both is what I do see.

People saying drop Cloke, I suggest are frustrated. I understand that. But give the lad and the team some time.

kymbo5@yahoo.com.au · Joined: 23 Mar 2014

Travis is far too important. To focus entirely on his goals and/or goal assists is way too narrow a view.

King Malta · RIP Flip Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Location: Gettin' Wiggy

Brenny · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Location: Westpac Centre

^ I turn 30 this year (though I like to think it's 2 Cool

and I still think I don't need the stress :p

MattyD · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Location: Kew

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

Piesnchess · piesnchess Joined: 09 Jun 2008

I reckon he will come good real soon, he just needs one great game, bag six snags. Jesse White will help him out, white has to get used to our gameplan, and try to become a decoy for Clokey, and don't forget, if 3 guys are manning up Cloke, then that means, we should have 3 loose guys to snap up any crumbs, like Elliott or sidey.

Piethagoras' Theorem · the hypotenuse, is always a cakewalk Joined: 29 May 2006

Out of form, no doubt but even so, he still adds value. He's a match winner, we can't afford to have him running around in the vfl at this stage. Sure, if it were to continue for a few more weeks and we had Reid and Brown back in, you'd consider it. I reckon he'll come good this week though.

rand corp · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: south east asia

Reckon Trav will come good over the next couple of weeks

OEP · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Location: Perth

Even an underperforming Travis makes our team better because he takes not only their best defender but usually their best 3 defenders leaving space for the other forwards to use, though sometimes they don't use it and sometimes the player kicking into the forward line doesn't use the free forward.

If he wasn't working hard during the game I'd have some concerns but he always works his arse off every game and eventually the rewards will come.

Rick · Joined: 11 May 2008

Trav needs to watch Nick Reiwoldt. He needs to out run his opponent and present up on the wings.

With White and Witts in the 50 arc, we should be taking advantage of Clokes aerobic abilities as the conduit between the arcs.

Mugwump · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne

Put him at CHF. He'll mark everything and still kick two or three a game from that distance. Having him so deep denies him space and allows time for the opposition to get players back into that space, by the time the ball gets there.

If the traditional Ff role has any meaning, give it to White and/or Elliott.

jackcass · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: Bendigo

Don't see how this is an issue this week when we've managed to kick a winning score without scoreboard contributions from Cloke. White certainly wouldn't have had as much space and opportunity if Cloke wasn't out there, same for the mids.

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

Bob Sugar · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Location: Benalla

Returning him to the VFL will hurt us, Cloke even in his current form is better than our next best, but as I've said it could be short term pain for long term gain, I'd play him in the VFL for the next 2 weeks, give him a couple of soft kills, it'll also make him angry, very angry, it'll hurt his pride, and an angry Trav is the Trav we need.