EFNL 2021: How Templestowe pulled off ex-AFL, VFL recruiting coup

Ex-AFL tall Cameron Cloke and VFL flag star Michael Fogarty head a long line of big recruits at Templestowe this off-season. Here’s how they did it.

Ex-Magpies, Blues and Port big man Cameron Cloke spearheads a long line of key recruits at Templestowe.

Few, if any, clubs in the Eastern league could rival Templestowe’s recruiting haul this off-season.

Former Carlton, Collingwood and Port Adelaide big man Cameron Cloke headlines a swag of key recruits for the Dockers, alongside ex-VFL midfielder, Michael Fogarty.

Cloke crosses from Northern league top-flight club Hurstbridge, after previous stints included Barooga, Jacana and Bundoora. He won two flags with Bundoora along with two best and fairests, after an AFL career which spanned 58 matches from 2004 to 2010.

Fogarty makes the move from Eastern Premier club Doncaster where he won two best and fairests, after the midfielder forged a state league career which included a flag with Footscray.

He also took out best and fairests at Spotswood in the WRFL and Williamstown in the VFL reserves.

Michael Fogarty flies for the ball in his Doncaster days. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Templestowe football manager Ryan Bain said a long-time connection helped land Cloke at the club – with the ex-AFL man bringing with him brother-in-law, Fogarty.

“I’ve known Cam for quite a while personally, and I played a bit of footy against him when we were younger,” Bain said.

“I was always quite close with him … another one of our senior players, Chris Davies, is also good friends with him.

“I knew he wanted to come down a few grades, so I reached out to him.

“Chris Davies has moved just around the corner from him as well so it was an opportunity to try and get him.

“There was the connection there (between Cloke and Fogarty) – they wanted to play together.”

The pair join dual Eastern league premiership captain Nick Batsanis and inside-mid Jai Hardwick (both crossing from Rosebud). The pair are friends, with Batsanis returning to the club having won the best and fairest at the Dockers in 2013. Meanwhile, winger/half forward Ash Goldsmith returns from Yarra Old Grammarians in the VAFA as another key signing at Porter Street for 2022.

Nick Batsanis won the 2013 best and fairest for Templestowe. Picture: Davis Harrigan

And the recruiting haul isn’t going to break the bank.

“That’s probably been the most impressive thing with who we have signed … they’re all coming for the right reasons, we’re not paying big dollars to get them across,” Bain said.

They’ll play under incoming coach Anthony McGregor, who replaces Craig Decorsey.

McGregor takes over a young playing group which posted a 1-11 record in Division 2 in 2021.

He said last week: “The one thing that they (the players) all said and wanted was some leadership and experience (in 2022).”

The Dockers were spared a fall to Division 3 in 2022 after the Eastern league froze automatic promotion and relegation following the shortened season.