EDFL 2018: Cameron Cloke puts pen to paper for Jacana in 2019
FORMER AFL player and gun forward Cameron Cloke has signed with an Essendon District Football League club as a playing assistant coach in a recruiting coup.
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FORMER AFL player and gun forward Cameron Cloke has signed with an Essendon District Football League club as a playing assistant coach in a recruiting coup.
Cloke has returned to Jacana after a season away in a massive shot in the arm for the Essendon District Football League club.
The 33-year-old, who played 58 games at AFL level, booted 127 goals in 2017 as the Jaguars powered their way to the Division 2 flag and has signed on as a playing assistant coach under new mentor Matthew Huy.
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Cloke played five matches for Hurstbridge in the Northern league this year before crossing to Murray league club Barooga and contributing 36 majors from 11 games.
“When he went off to Barooga, we were always in the hunt for him and he was pretty keen to come back. It’s all been in the plans for a while,” president Rick Lloyd said.
“Being assistant coach, he’s going to teach a lot of the young guys coming through. We’ve signed a couple of good, young tall kids and he will teach them a hell of a lot down there.
“That’s what it is more about – it’s not about him winning games off his own boot.”
Jacana finished last in Division 1 after claiming just one win and will compete in Division 2 next season.
The club had hoped to retain its spot in the second tier, with Sunbury Kangaroos crossing from the EDFL from the Riddell league and Keilor Park returning to the senior ranks after a year in recess.
The Jaguars have also signed former junior and Calder Cannons TAC Cup player Kane Murfett, who stands almost 2m tall.
Lloyd said more players were set to commit in coming weeks.
“Matty is doing a lot of work behind the scenes,” he said.
“I think with Cam signing on, a lot of these guys will start signing now.”
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