Travis Cloke hits out at trolls who targeted his kids on grand final day

Former AFL star Travis Cloke has shamed a troll who targeted his children with foul comments on grand final weekend.

Travis Cloke and his children showing support for the Bulldogs.

Former AFL star Travis Cloke and wife Beccy have called out vile trolling on social media that targeted their children on grand final weekend.

The pair both reposted the hurtful comments on Seven AFL’s Facebook account, which were written on a picture of Cloke with his two young children, Archer and Scarlett, in Western Bulldogs jumpers.

The Clokes said they were not OK with the suggestion that he should drop his 11-month-old son, with the Collingwood premiership forward pointing out another distasteful comment left by the same user that read: “Why do we have to see his vermin, they have no relevance to the football?”

The couple shared their frustration on Instagram and requested the comments be removed. The comments had vanished by Wednesday morning.

“So posted this super photo of me and my kids, showing supporters (sic) for my friends at the Dogs and then this,’’ Cloke wrote.

“This I am not ok with. Would love to see this comment removed @7afl.

Beccy and Travis Cloke with their daughter, Scarlett. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I am going to assume this woman is going through a tough time. But referencing dropping my 11 month old and calling my children vermin? It’s not ok. @7afl. I am really not ok with this.”

Cloke has been outspoken about the effect of trolls, suggesting last year that a player could self harm after reading social media messages following matches.

His wife said posting pictures of their children was something they often discussed but urged social sites to keep a closer eye on comments.

“We all know people need to be held accountable for their words online,” Ms Cloke said.

“It is spoken about but not acted upon nearly enough. Regardless of what one may be going through it’s not acceptable.

“Because my husband once kicked a ball around does not give someone permission to write such awful things about our children.

“What really disappoints me is that the comments sat there for 2 days before we were made aware. Thanks to a certain illness starting with c and ending with d we know the technology to patrol these sorts of comments online exists. So why isn’t it put into play?”

The couple said they were hurt by the upsetting comments. Picture: David Caird

Cloke said during his playing career the abuse impacted him and he suffered with mental health issues towards the end of his time at the Bulldogs.

He was relieved that in retirement he would not have to wake up to the “hate and abuse” on Twitter each weekend.

Last year he told the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast: “I truly do believe we will push the line with social media and someone will actually self-harm before we do get some really good results out of this.

“You walk into the room, sing the song if you have won, sit on the ground for a couple of minutes if you have lost, and then walk to the locker and grab your phone.

“It could be a matter of 10 minutes after you have played a game of footy.

“You haven’t even had the coach’s address, haven’t spoken to an assistant coach, haven’t spoken to your wife, girlfriend or family.

“You grab your phone and that was not just me, it was 21 other players in the dressing rooms doing the exact same thing … and back at the end of my career you weren’t allowed your phones …. but the boys still had their phones, don’t worry about that.”