Travis Cloke no longer Collingwood’s top forward target
UPDATE: OUT-OF-FORM Collingwood forward Travis Cloke believes he has “enough tickets in the bank” to retain his spot for the Anzac Day clash with Essendon.
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OUT-OF-FORM Collingwood forward Travis Cloke believes he has “enough tickets in the bank” to retain his spot for the Anzac Day clash with Essendon, but concedes he needs to play with more freedom to regain his form.
Cloke injured his elbow in last week’s shock loss to Melbourne, but he insisted he will be right to play against the Bombers on Monday.
Asked if he was a certainty to play on Monday given the speculation he could be dropped to the VFL, the 29-year-old said: “It’s up to the coach, but I’d like to think so.”
“I would like to think I’ve got enough tickets in the bank over the years to step up and prove a few people wrong, but also to play the football that the Collingwood Football Club needs me to.
“I will be putting my hand up to play on the weekend. I look forward to the challenge to get myself right and be a part of the Anzac Day squad.”
The 237-gamer is spending more time further up the field this season to help support Brodie Grundy in the ruck and averages four hit-outs.
But Collingwood has massive problems in attack, ranked last for retaining the ball once it enters the forward arc.
The Magpies have marked the ball only 15 per cent of the time it has gone inside 50 over the first four rounds, ranked second-last.
Collingwood’s ball use has contributed significantly to the scoring issues, and captain Scott Pendlebury said the team must stop attempting “million-dollar kicks”.
But Cloke, considered one of the premier forwards in the AFL in 2012 when he signed a five-year contract to stay at Collingwood, has played only a minor role in Buckley’s forward setup this season.
He has been targeted inside 50m on average only three times a game. He is Collingwood’s fifth most-used target inside 50m, with mid-sized goalkicker Alex Fasolo (average 6.5) leading the way.
“It is quite surprising to hear that number being so so,” Cloke said on radio RSN927. “I do remember a couple of years ago being in the double figures and being quite high.”
“I have felt that it hasn’t been coming quite as direct as it has been over the past couple of years, but it is the way we are playing football.
“We are trying to have an even spread at the forward half, but you always want a bit more in your own way. We will see how that rolls. I am trying to do what is best for the side.”
“We’re trying to have an even spread in the forward half but you always want a bit more ball your own way but we’ll see how it rolls."
- Travis Cloke 
Cloke admitted he was frustrated by his recent form, which has seen him kick only eight goals in his last 10 games, but he said he was learning to play a slightly different role in a restructured Magpies’ forward line.
“(Am I) troubled (about form), no. Concerned, no. But am I playing the football that I would like to play, no,” Cloke said.
“I would like to be probably more of that dominant marking forward that I ... have been over the last few years.
“I haven’t really been in that situation of late, and I guess it comes back to myself. There is no else to blame. (I’ve got to) get in the right position and jump for the ball and play with a bit of freedom.”
Tim Watson said Cloke had not been as successful playing under Nathan Buckley’s game plan since he took over from Michael Malthouse.
Watson said the great forwards were able to read the game “two or three kicks ahead” but Cloke needed more predictable ball movement to succeed.
“One of the things that is a problem for Trav is that I don’t think he reads the play particularly well,” Watson said on SEN.
“Under the Malthouse game plan he was used more in a direct line.
“There was a greater understanding of where he needed to be. He was almost playing on tracks.
“It was very predictable ball movement down the line.
“Under Bucks the ball movement changed and I don’t think he’s been able to adapt to that. I don’t think he reads the play particularly well.”
Melbourne great David Schwarz said Cloke’s teammates had lost faith in him.
“Collingwood aren’t even kicking to him like they used to,” Schwarz said. “They’re actually more comfortable going to Darcy Moore.”
Cloke, who made his debut on Anzac Day 11 years ago, said he was in constant communication with Buckley about his role, and how he could get better as a forward and a teammate.
“He is my coach, but he is also a mate of mine,” he said. “He cares deeply about myself and my football.”
The 29-year-old is in doubt to play in the Anzac Day clash with a sore elbow, but Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley also said there were no guarantees on his spot after a disappointing start to the season.
“He’s a senior player with 230 games’ experience and we need him to stand up more than he has at this point in time, and this is going to be a tough period for him,” Buckley said.
“When you’re performing the way we’re performing at the moment, everything (selection-wise) is on the table.”
Collingwood football chief Neil Balme said Cloke and defender Ben Reid would face fitness tests later in the week.
“Travis Cloke stretched his elbow a little bit. He was pretty sore at the end of the game, but we are pretty confident he will get up,” Balme said.
“Ben Reid knocked his knee and similarly will need to be tested.”
KICK IT TO ME
Collingwood Inside 50m targets
Source: Champion Data
Originally published as Travis Cloke no longer Collingwood’s top forward target
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