VAFA 2021: Aaron Cloke kicks nine goals in Oakleigh win in Division 1

One of football’s most notable families — the Clokes — were headliners all over again with Aaron Cloke firing off nine goals for Oakleigh to defeat Peninsula by himself.

Oakleigh forward Aaron Cloke (left) playing against Ormond in 2017. Picture: Chris Eastman

Rarely at any level of football does one man defeat the rest, but it happened at Peninsula Grammar on Saturday when Oakleigh’s champion full forward Aaron Cloke kicked nine goals in a sublime performance in the rain.

After Peninsula had held Oakleigh goalless in the first quarter, Cloke’s extraordinary solo saw him kick four goals in the second quarter and five in the third as Oakleigh established a six-goal break at three-quarter time.

With 17 shots on goal for 9.4, Cloke was unstoppable, one mid-air soccer-style goal an amazing reflex action. A late snap for his 10th missed everything.

Cloke has three times kicked 100 goals in a season. His father Peter and uncle David were both AFL players, David playing 300-plus games.

Oakleigh had only one other goal kicker and won their first match of the season by 19 points, 10.13 (73) to Peninsula’s 8.6 (54).

Peninsula was again undermanned physically with three players dropping out late in the week: Jake Williams, Sam Harrison and Hayden Cribbon-Rigg.

Two first-gamers Cade Porter and Jack Tickner worked hard in a team badly beaten mid-match, Porter showing class and poise with his clever baulks and relief ruckman Tickner kicking his first goal in senior football early in the third quarter.

Peninsula’s best player on the day was Rob Bambery.

The Pirates led by 11 points at quarter time, before conceding 10 scoring shots to just three to go in at half-time 21 points behind.

With Oakleigh conceding its lead to almost six goals at three-quarter time, Peninsula coach Nick Claringbold threw his tallest defender Alex Marshall forward in the last quarter and his hardness at the ball opened the way for Josh Goudge’s second goal.

No. 1 ruckman Mike McLellan was also among Peninsula’s best along with Tom La Brooy and Benji Pulsford.

The play of the day came early with Peninsula in the lead when an over-eager collie dog, belonging to a local, broke his chain and raced up and down the member’s wing, prompting one Oakleigh supporter to call for a count.

Old Peninsula meet old Camberwell in its first ‘away’ game of the season on Saturday.