EFNL 2023: Cameron Cloke makes surprise comeback in Division 2 preliminary final

Just months after an off-the-ball incident forced his retirement, ex-AFL big man Cameron Cloke made a shock return for Templestowe in a preliminary final on Sunday.

FORMER AFL big man Cameron Cloke made a shock comeback in the Eastern league on Sunday, just months after announcing his retirement.

Cloke turned out in a Division 2 preliminary final for Templestowe, which fell to Heathmont by 13 points.

The ex-Magpie, Blue and Power tall was struck in an off-the-ball incident in May which landed the 38-year-old in hospital, suffering headaches and unable to sleep.

Cameron Cloke playing for Templestowe earlier this season. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Hanging up the boots following a history of concussions, Cloke said in a statement in May:

“Now it’s time for me to take a step back and give more of my time to my family and my 3 kids that mean the world to me … I can’t let them see me get hurt anymore …”

But an appeal from Templestowe senior coach Nick Batsanis ahead of last weekend’s cutthroat final sparked Cloke’s cameo, slotting into the forward line.

He’s not expected to take the field again.

“With Cam being Cam, I just said ‘Give me one game, if you can’, and Cam got cleared to play medically, doctors’ clearance, family OK with it, and he said I’ll give you two more games,” Batsanis said.

“Cam was just down there to provide a contest, which he did.

“He hadn’t played footy for a long time, but he gave us something and a different look.

“Cam won’t play again … he just needed to fill a spot for us. He put his body on the line again which we appreciate, but it didn’t work out unfortunately.”

Gun mid-season recruit Dean Limbach made way for Cloke’s return.

“I threw a ‘Hail Mary’ (with Cloke), to tell you the truth – it wasn’t working with ‘Dogga’ (Limbach), who started like a house on fire, but unfortunately his form didn’t warrant selection come the prelim final,” Batsanis said.

Batsanis took on the Dockers’ coaching role on an interim basis following the mid-season exit of Anthony McGregor, and recently won the position full-time for 2024.

Initially in the role as a player, Batsanis has called time on his career which took in two flags as captain at Doncaster East.

“I’ll step back and just coach (next year) … I feel like it’s the right time for me to step back and coach, I personally can’t play and coach,” he said.

“I’m excited, it’s a great group that we’ve got, (and) we’ve signed 90 per cent of our list.”