Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Travis Cloke

[bulldogtragic]

I'm sure someone will point out that's not how we do things at the Bulldogs.

And David Cloke won't listen, that's just him. When lazy journos want a headline they ring David. That's no reflection on us, and I don't really care what he's got to say. But as to the substance, he's actually right about Buckley and the inability to coach or use his players to maximum advantage. Buckley's had a lot of elite talent on his list, and has finished worse year on year. David's not really saying anything we don't know about Buckley or how happy Trav is.

[Topdog]

Not to berate a club legend but they do the same with Hawkins. Want a headline, call Doug.

[Twodogs]

And David Cloke won't listen, that's just him. When lazy journos want a headline they ring David. That's no reflection on us, and I don't really care what he's got to say. But as to the substance, he's actually right about Buckley and the inability to coach or use his players to maximum advantage. Buckley's had a lot of elite talent on his list, and has finished worse year on year. David's not really saying anything we don't know about Buckley or how happy Trav is.


That's really the point. It's pretty self evident how well it's going for Trav and that Collingwood *!*!*!*!ed up royally with the way they played him last year and for adding another piece of the bulldog dominance jigsaw. We dint need to rub anyone's nose in it.

For the club that always went into finals with makeshift Forward lines it's great to know that we can run with a tradional FF/CHF forward set up that leaves Dickson and Stringer running around with the third or fourth defender or even one with no defender because he's gone to help out with Boyd or Cloke or Crameri. Or Bontempelli.


Anyway as for Damir Cloke's remarks I'm sure that Bevo has picked the phone and told Bucks that they aren't the views of anyone at the club.* And anyway Bucks would know what dealing with David Cloke is like better than most.



*even though they are. :rolleyes:

[bornadog]

Manager insists Cloke's not the retiring type (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-19/manager-insists-clokes-not-the-retiring-type?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)


WESTERN Bulldogs forward Travis Cloke will play on next year, quashing speculation about a looming retirement.

Player manager Paul Connors said he was confident that the key forward, who has another year left on his contract, would remain at the Kennel next year.

"Robbie D'Orazio from our office manages Travis, and he'll be there (at the Bulldogs)," Connors said on Tuesday morning at the launch of NAB AFL Trade Radio.

Questions about his playing future were raised throughout the former Magpie's first season at the Western Bulldogs, which yielded just 10 games and 11 goals.

He took a break in the middle of the season to deal with mental health issues.

It was the fewest matches Cloke had played in a single season in his career, and the fewest goals since his second year at Collingwood in 2006.

Despite this, Connors said he was satisfied with the big forward's season and put his underwhelming form down to settling into a new team after more than a decade at the Magpies.

"I think his year wasn't that bad," Connors said.

"You're finding your feet always at a new club, but I think there's a spot for Trav, and I think he'll have a good year next year for the Dogs as well."

With joint leading goalkicker Jake Stringer expected to be traded from the Bulldogs, further pressure will be placed on Cloke and his fellow forwards to perform and fill the club's attacking void.

[bulldogtragic]

Good

[S Coast Simon]

Was going along nicely till he was taken out in a crude, late bump. That broke three ribs. how Zeibel got away with that is unbelievable. I am glad he is going again. Will be good in his second year for sure. He is after all only 30

[G-Mo77]

I was hoping he would call it quits. Cloke, Crameri just cut our losses and move on.

[josie]

Bloody great news. I reckon with a clear run fr injuries and opp team thugs I think he is going to surprise a few naysayers.....Good on ya, Go Clokey!!

[ledge]

I like Cloke, he has forward experience , I watched him in the VFL after his absence and he was extremely good and relaxed with his team mates , laughing and joking at 3/4 time and talking body placement etc with Tim English, he has a big body and knows how to use it , if we deliver it right to him he has a lot of goals and marks in him.

[AndrewP6]

Happy to hear this, want to see big Trav get a clear run at it. God knows we need some good club news right now.

[Doc26]

Happy to hear this, want to see big Trav get a clear run at it. God knows we need some good club news right now.

How you right you are. If a week's a long time in footy, a year now seems like an eternity.

[Twodogs]

How you right you are. If a week's a long time in footy, a year now seems like an eternity.


It was a year a fortnight ago then a year last week then a year this week and then it will be a year again after that!

[ratsmac]

Was going along nicely till he was taken out in a crude, late bump. That broke three ribs. how Zeibel got away with that is unbelievable. I am glad he is going again. Will be good in his second year for sure. He is after all only 30

Yeah his ribs would still be sore now. I broke a rib years ago and I'd say it took twelve months to heal fully where I had full range of movement without pain. Trav broke 3. It's no wonder his form was patchy after the Ziebell incident. Hopefully he can give us a good target in 2018 and even look to sign 1 year extensions after showing good form.

[bulldogtragic]

Yeah his ribs would still be sore now. I broke a rib years ago and I'd say it took twelve months to heal fully where I had full range of movement without pain. Trav broke 3. It's no wonder his form was patchy after the Ziebell incident. Hopefully he can give us a good target in 2018 and even look to sign 1 year extensions after showing good form.

Yep there were good signs. He was the difference in beating Sydney in round 2. Looked OK against North before Ziebell 'legally broke 3 ribs'. His ruck work got better along the way, he was our best long bail out kick target weve had in years and his ground ball collection and snaps against Port in Ballarat were a new dimension. He looked slimmer whilst being strong.

The running, more rucking, marking, ground ball collection and snapping. Hopefully these are the progression to what Bevo had in mind when we got him and how Trav talked about changing his game to the Nick Riewoldt style.

[S Coast Simon]

There is a duty of care from Ziebell. Snipping a player after kicking the ball without being able to protect himself is not considered tough. It's considered to be a cheap shot. He has sadly slowed down a bit and is now a bit of a sniper. Has alway been a tough ball player but it has crept into his game in the last few years

[macca]

There is a duty of care from Ziebell. Snipping a player after kicking the ball without being able to protect himself is not considered tough. It's considered to be a cheap shot. He has sadly slowed down a bit and is now a bit of a sniper. Has alway been a tough ball player but it has crept into his game in the last few years. It's the north melbourne style , dog acts disguised as shine boner spirit.

Cloke was on fire up until that point and it was a huge set back . Really happy to know he will have another go as the passion and enjoyment is still there. Our young players will learn a lot from him , no pun intended on young the player .

[Twodogs]

. It's the north melbourne style , dog acts disguised as shine boner spirit.

Cloke was on fire up until that point and it was a huge set back . Really happy to know he will have another go as the passion and enjoyment is still there. Our young players will learn a lot from him , no pun intended on young the player .


I agree that anything or anyone to do with that shit club should be euthanased. But we get to play them again next year and we should just keep what happened in the back of our minds and the first time Ziebull bends over the ball somebody spiflicates the *!*!*!*!. Simple.

Then the next time someone wants to take a *!*!*!*!ing liberty with one of our boys he remembers the look of pain on Ziebulls face as they carried him off the ground. Too much went unpunished this year, it was one of our problems we just refused to stand up for one another. Did one player even look at Bugg when he was going JJ? All it takes is a stray backhander or a pull of his ankle in a pack to let him know he's being watched and we are just waiting for our chance.