News Cloke our Most Important Player - Robbo

[TradeDraft]

MAGPIES CHANT MVP

Travis Cloke is Collingwood's most valuable player.

When he is playing so-so football, the Magpies are a good side. When he plays great footy, as he did on Friday night, the Magpies are a mighty team.

Always when teams challenge for the premiership, the jigsaw pieces must fill the puzzle as much as possible.

Collingwood's defence and midfield have strengthened to elite status, and it would appear the question marks that hovered over Collingwood's two key forward positions have aslo been answered: Cloke and Chris Dawes.

Dawes is important, Cloke is crucial.

Since 2007, when Cloke won the Copeland Trophy as a 20-year-old, the third brother -- and the best -- has largely failed to live up to the standard he set. In 2008 he kicked 40 goals, and in 2009 just 22 which included nine games without kicking a goal.

That he was bashed by cowards in Queensland didn't help his mindset and for a ''confidence'' player that can mean everything.

Agree with him Here. If we lose Cloke we could be in real Trouble as Dawes would be the Only True KPF and I don't think he is up to doing that yet

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tackle

 

[Football God]

I knew this ages ago.

 

[Quicky]

You give Anthony no credit Dave. If Cloke went down it would just mean Dawes to CHF and Anthony to FF. We would have similar quality in our forward line to last year. No doubt it would be a blow but I feel we could cover it pretty well.

 

[Blur]

You give Anthony no credit Dave. If Cloke went down it would just mean Dawes to CHF and Anthony to FF. We would have similar quality in our forward line to last year. No doubt it would be a blow but I feel we could cover it pretty well.

I agree, Quicky. I think everyone is forgetting Anthony in the wake of Cloke and Dawes evolving so fast. Jack kicked the most goals out of anyone at the CFC last year, and should not be just dismissed into the woodworks just yet.

But I agree with the idea that Clokey is out most important player. When he is turned on and is kicking accurately, the team works better. I hope he keeps it up.

 

[mdc]

The tired old idea that the CHF (in our case Cloke) is the most important player is one of the myths that miffs me most.

It stems from a time when a team's strategy consisted pretty much of bombing to CHF every possession.

And before anyone brings up Saints/Reiwoldt/rah rah rah...he's their most important player because he's by far and away their best player, and they have no depth behind him to boot.

Our situation is completely different.

 

[Optimax]

The tired old idea that the CHF (in our case Cloke) is the most important player is one of the myths that miffs me most.

It stems from a time when a team's strategy consisted pretty much of bombing to CHF every possession.

And before anyone brings up Saints/Reiwoldt/rah rah rah...he's their most important player because he's by far and away their best player, and they have no depth behind him to boot.

Our situation is completely different.

We would still struggle o cover Cloke (especially in this form) and Jolly more then any other player in the side.

Sure Anthony and fraser are both good players but neither can really fill the void of those in this form

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

How simplistic.

Who was best on ground last week?

Oh, Cloke - well he must be our most important player!!!!

Pathetically simple minded analysis.

Every team's CHF is very important. In our case we have cover, with Jack Anthony Josh Fraser Chris Dawes and Leigh Brown all capable, plus a host of small forwards.

Our two most important players are Darren Jolly and Dane Swan.

 

[Old Spice]

On strength, Cloke is super important. When he pushed Taz out on Friday nigte with one hand running into the goalsquare, he made Tarrant look like Stephen Hill.

He definitely straightens the team up because he is such a strong mark and fierce tackler that we don't mind getting it into him quickly. Has run outside 50 a lot, but started deeper on Friday and was obviously within scoring distance when he took his grablets.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Always has been.

Which is part of where some of our negativity came from.

He's been useless for 2 years, and in the big games against the top sides, we have been also.

This year, he seems to be back in 2007 form and guess what?

- We beat Bulldogs
- Beat our bogey side Hawthorn
- Beat Freo at Subi
- Second highest scoring side in the comp
- Top of the ladder after 8 Rounds
- Generally just kicking ass

Yeah, no coincidence.

 

[Syphoncom]

I'd say Pendlebury is actually one of our most important players, far moreso than Dane Swan. Ofcourse everyone will have their own opinions, but I find his use of the ball amazing during the congestion, moreso than anyone else.


But in regards to the Cloke comment: Duh.

It's so easy for someone to say a CHF is amazingly important. Why?

When one player is unstoppable, ofcourse wouldn't it be the player capable of taking marks inside F50, but also long bombs outside the 50? if Rocca was unstoppable, Brown, Fevola, Riewoldt, Carey, Lockett.. all these teams are unstoppable.

Generally pretty hard to argue against the momentum that comes from those sort of goals... which in turn are generally kicked by those sort of players.

 

[mattys123]

I still rate power forwards very highly, maybe higher then any other position on the field, and Cloke has shown how "powerful" and "effective" the position can be if played right.

It's no coincidence that we have improved at the same time as Travis has returned to form, the two are linked together.

Does that make him our most important player?, I'd say a maybe, as I still don't think we rely on one single player, and that is a good thing.

I think we probably don't have one "MVP", we probably have a group of 5-6 that if anyone of them went down, we would be less of a team.

My "MVP's" group would be;

* Swan
* Pendles
* Cloke
* Jolly
* Didak

I sincerely believe that if we go into the finals without 2 of these 5, we will not be a premiership threat.

That places us above Geelong, Stkilda and the Dogs in that unlike them, we do not have one single player we rely on so much. (Especially the Saints).

Last year we didn't have Jolly or Pendles in the finals, and look how competitive we were with the top 2.

 

[mdc]

He's been useless for 2 years, and in the big games against the top sides, we have been also.

The only top side we've beaten is WB, and Cloke had a stinker.

There's no doubt that Cloke regaining form helps us a lot, but that's true of almost any player.

 

[rhysman]

Im interested to get Pies supporters view on who your BEST player is. Even though I agree Cloke is your most important player I dont necessarily think he's your best. Part of the reason Collingwood is such a strong team at the moment is that they are so even - lots of good players but no champions. If you asked someone who your best player was though, you could get 3-5 different answers - Swan, Didak, Pendlebury, Cloke, Shaw???

 

[mdc]

If you asked someone who your best player was though, you could get 3-5 different answers - Swan, Didak, Pendlebury, Cloke, Shaw???

It's true, but the correct answer is Pendlebury or Swan. Pendlebury at his best is better, but Swan has him for consistency.

 

[rhysman]

As an opposition supporter I reckon didak is your best player. Whenever he plays well you just win.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Im interested to get Pies supporters view on who your BEST player is. Even though I agree Cloke is your most important player I dont necessarily think he's your best. Part of the reason Collingwood is such a strong team at the moment is that they are so even - lots of good players but no champions. If you asked someone who your best player was though, you could get 3-5 different answers - Swan, Didak, Pendlebury, Cloke, Shaw???

Good question although I laugh at the assumption that just because we have an even spread, then that means automatically that we dont have any "champions".

Dane Swan is our best player by a reasonable margin. He gets the hard ball, he gets the easy ball, he lays tackles, and he kicks goals. And he cant be tagged. Absolute elite of the AFL.

 

[rhysman]

By champion im talking about Ablett, Judd, Riewoldt, Brown class. I dont think Collingwood has anyone in that class. Thats not a knock on anyone as those guys are truly elite.

 

[Zahki]

The only top side we've beaten is WB, and Cloke had a stinker.

There's no doubt that Cloke regaining form helps us a lot, but that's true of almost any player.

Freo? I think they're definitely a top side this year judging by how they've played so far, and who they've beaten. Bulldogs are looking much more shakey, they might not even make top 4.

 

[Old Spice]

If Swan didn't waddle like a duck, he'd be considered A-grade. Racked up most disposals in the league last year, has good disposal efficiency and can play all over the ground. On the downside, he's not feted.

 

[Old Spice]

Freo? I think they're definitely a top side this year judging by how they've played so far, and who they've beaten. Bulldogs are looking much more shakey, they might not even make top 4.

The other thing is that even the crap sides play 10% better against the Pies.

 

[TradeDraft]

You give Anthony no credit Dave. If Cloke went down it would just mean Dawes to CHF and Anthony to FF. We would have similar quality in our forward line to last year. No doubt it would be a blow but I feel we could cover it pretty well.

Well that's what they did in the VFL when the 2 Played Together those Would mean JA would not get in Dawses way like he did a few times in the 1st Half of Fridays Game

 

[Invigoration]

Maybe Dawes got in Jack's way on Friday?

 

[Zahki]

Maybe Dawes got in Jack's way on Friday?

I think you just exploded TDs brain.

 

[mdc]

Freo? I think they're definitely a top side this year judging by how they've played so far, and who they've beaten. Bulldogs are looking much more shakey, they might not even make top 4.

I'd bet my house on Freo finishing below the Dogs.

Freo's played well so far, and beating them @ Freo is obviously a good win, but their list isn't in the same league as the Dogs, and ultimately talent wins out.

That said, with the sudden demise of Hawthorn/Adelaid and Reiwoldt's injury, Geelong and the Dogs are really the only other top teams left.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

By champion im talking about Ablett, Judd, Riewoldt, Brown class. I dont think Collingwood has anyone in that class. Thats not a knock on anyone as those guys are truly elite.

There are not only four players in that "class". Thats too simplistic. The class of eliet players is much deeper than that and Swan is up there with the best of them.

As another poster above has said, the only reason people underrate him is his awkward running style. And the black and white uniform.