Cam Cloke

[skeetz]

Just wondering how he's going boys?
I saw that very un-flattering picture of him and was very dissapointed.
Considering the young talls you guys now have, is there any chance of Cam keeping his spot?
Cheers

 

[blues4flag]

He'll be going into the season as the number one ruckman, and I'd think our ruck combo this season will be Cloke/Hampson, with Hampson possibly gaining the number one spot by season's end. Given our lack of experienced ruckmen (bar Ackland) Cloke should play the whole year to provide a mature body in there.

 

[AlecDuncan]

Just wondering how he's going boys?

He was understandably very rusty during the first NAB Cup game, but got better in the second. By round 1 he should be back to normal.

He'll always be on a one-year contract though. We're taking those shoulders one season at a time. The next time will probably be the last. Hopefully he plays for years, but you never know.

 

[skeetz]

Hmm that's a bit of a worry...#1 ruck.... He's only 195. How are the Irish lads coming along? Surely they are both taller than 195.
Why don't you have any older, better rucks? I hear the hiding that Ackland gets given around here. When did your last good ruck retire?
Well I hope that Cam steps up to the plate, he was a usefull player for us at times. I was sad to see him go.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Our last half decent ruck was Barnaby French and he retired at the end of 2006.

Aisake O'hAilpin is injured and will take time to come in. Hampson is injured but will be our number one soon enough. Setanta is not a full time ruckman.

 

[skeetz]

Well that's a bit sad to hear. I was hoping to see your midfield getting good taps etc.
It certainly seems like they are working to rectify the situation, hopefully one of your young-uns will step up to the plate sooner rather than later.
Good luck to Clokey anyhow, it looks like if he wants and works hard enough for that spot, it's his (for the time being).

 

[Donstuie]

Cloke's been great for us, despite his shoulder problem. His commitment can't be questioned and he adds a strong body to our team. But I don't think we can ruck him full time because of his shoulder, as well as his lack of height and vertical leap. It'd be great if we could call on Cloke as a backup/utility, but circumstances haven't been good to him so far, and he's been left with the #1 role.

But Hampson is the great white hope. Incredible athlete still learning the game, but in the pre-season prior to his injury he more than held his own against Sandilands and Hudson, and he's only been playing the game a few years. We're hopeful that a midfield of Hampson/Kreuzer, Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Stevens, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker will be the most feared combo in the comp in a couple of years.

 

[Blue_Virus]

Cloke was fantastic for us b4 shoulder last year! His loss wasnt far behind Stevens! His tapping at the centre bounce was right up there with the best in those first few rounds! He's got plenty of mongrel too which is a big plus for our young side!

 

[thylacine60]

Cloke was fantastic for us b4 shoulder last year! His loss wasnt far behind Stevens! His tapping at the centre bounce was right up there with the best in those first few rounds! He's got plenty of mongrel too which is a big plus for our young side!

True, Stevo particularly enjoyed roving to him.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

Well that's a bit sad to hear. I was hoping to see your midfield getting good taps etc.

Cloke's is pretty good at taping the ball down to our midfield, some of the work he did with Stevo early last year was great, let's hope we can get some of the same this year...

 

[thylacine60]

True, Stevo particularly enjoyed roving to him.

Cloke's is pretty good at taping the ball down to our midfield, some of the work he did with Stevo early last year was great, let's hope we can get some of the same this year...

Snap!

 

[Blue_Virus]

Stevens/cloke last year fisher/walker this year! The second pair is more important in the 08 team i rekon! Any thoughts?

 

[skeetz]

We're hopeful that a midfield of Hampson/Kreuzer, Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Stevens, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker will be the most feared combo in the comp in a couple of years.

You might have to wait more than a couple of years if you are including those 2. I doubt they will be elite in just a couple of years time.
I don't think it's out of the question that you guys will be looking for the best out-of-contract ruckman at years end.
Your ruck prospects are waaay behind your mids in terms of development, and it really should be the other way round wouldn't you think?

As a side note, is there anywhere on the net you can find out what players contracts are coming up? If I were on the Blue's recruitment staff I would be looking long and hard at that list.

 

[skeetz]

Cloke's is pretty good at taping the ball down to our midfield, some of the work he did with Stevo early last year was great, let's hope we can get some of the same this year...

Well that's great (and a bit scary) to hear!

 

[Blue Dimension]

I think Cloke is vastly underrated by Collingwood fans.

I have been a harsh critic of him, mainly due to the fact that that i don't think his height will allow him to have a long term career as a ruckman (if only he was like 4-5 cm taller! )

However, there is no doubting his abiblity to tap down the ball when he does get on top. It's majestic almost. Brilliant palm downs to our mids, and as some have stated above, especially Stevo. I really think Judd and Clokey are going to end up being good old mates by the end of the year.

You might have to wait more than a couple of years if you are including those 2. I doubt they will be elite in just a couple of years time.
I don't think it's out of the question that you guys will be looking for the best out-of-contract ruckman at years end.
Your ruck prospects are waaay behind your mids in terms of development, and it really should be the other way round wouldn't you think?

As a side note, is there anywhere on the net you can find out what players contracts are coming up? If I were on the Blue's recruitment staff I would be looking long and hard at that list.

Doubt it highly to be honest. Hampson's development has accelerated to the extent where he can hold down a ruck spot in the team.

We will be looking for the best out of contract forward imo.

Aisake, Kreuzer and Hampson will be more than effective, even if they do take time to develop. That's why we have Cloke at this point in time.

 

[skeetz]

We had a problem with Clokey because while at the Pies he seemed to spend more time inventing new hairstyles than out on the training track running laps.
Everyone could see he had talent, but he just always seemed a bit full of himself, and maybe content with where he was at, rather than striving to get to that next level.

 

[skeetz]

Aisake, Kreuzer and Hampson will be more than effective, even if they do take time to develop. That's why we have Cloke at this point in time.

Hmmm.
You guys have just finished putting together a very very quality midfield. They are ready to go at it now. To take full advantage of it, you would have to say that you need a decent ruckman.
Do you think the Blues should be pinning their hopes on 3 guys who have collectively 1 senior game worth of experience?
I really hope for your sake that they come on quicker than any other ruckman we have ever seen.

 

[thylacine60]

We had a problem with Clokey because while at the Pies he seemed to spend more time inventing new hairstyles than out on the training track running laps.
Everyone could see he had talent, but he just always seemed a bit full of himself, and maybe content with where he was at, rather than striving to get to that next level.

Difference now is he knows if he washes out at Carlton he'll end up playing for Frankston (probably with Bryan).

 

[skeetz]

true dat.

 

[Blue Dimension]

Hmmm.
You guys have just finished putting together a very very quality midfield. They are ready to go at it now. To take full advantage of it, you would have to say that you need a decent ruckman.
Do you think the Blues should be pinning their hopes on 3 guys who have collectively 1 senior game worth of experience?
I really hope for your sake that they come on quicker than any other ruckman we have ever seen.

Actually, the team as the whole are not ready to go 'now'. We are still growing, and are the youngest team in the competition and still have a long way to go to. Team growth as a whole is important.

And yes i do believe these boys will be good enough to take us into the future. There is no point in quick fixes - we need to continue to develop what we've got.

 

[skeetz]

Cool well it seems to me that your developing ruckmen might be a bit too late to catch the peak of your young guns in the midfield, and definitely too late to be of any real benifit to Stevens. I'm not saying you need a 'quick fix' really, I just though it would be perfect if you had a ruck who was about 22-23, with a few seasons under his belt and ready to hit his real straps in the next 3-4 years. I could easily be wrong though

Couple of questions:
Who do you think will be the best ruck out of the 3?
How long before he is able to compete with the likes of Ottens, Cox etc?
How long before he becomes (hopefully) a dominating ruckman?

 

[Mr.X]

Blues desperately need a quality tall ruckman.

Cloke will not do long term, Ackland is a dud of the highest order, and I still wonder why people pin their hopes on aisake, who has yet to play a senior game.

Hopefully Kruezer can come along fast, but he may be needed to take care of our issues at CHF

 

[Kramer1]

Enlightening stuff Tony.

Pretty happy with him going up against Simmonds, who the term 'looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane' was created for.

 

[BlueDevil]

thought cloke did ok tonight. held his own against simmonds, which is all we can ask from him against taller and stronger ruckmen

 

[Feva]

Very happy with Cloke's game.

Single handedly took on Richmond's ruck department. Problem is he lacks abit of height but his work around the ground is good.

There are others I am more concerned about!