Trav Cloke

[Skade]

I'm a bit worried about Trav. Without Rocca he has to take the best back, I just don't know if he can return to Copeland form this year.
If Rus and Medders can keep improving it will take some pressure off him. We just don't know what we'll get from Rocca this year hopefully another pearler, but with uncertainties like Meds injury, Davis and Dids in the midfield. Well, I'm just very keen to see hoe MM strrutures our fwd line.

 

[RustyBeams]

Trav will be fine. Another year as Rocca's understudy (i think the big fella will squeeze out 10-16 games then hang the boots up) before he takes the main gig at FF. Trav looks like he's spent the summer in the gym so he should be fine. From all reports iv'e read medders should be fine to go from rd1, Dawes has got a full season (and pre-season) under his belt, after a knee reco, and should be right to take over from Rocca when he need's a rest, JA will be the pinch hitter from the flank and i doubt both Dids and Neon will spend the whole season in the middle if BJ can keep fit. Then there's Tarks who seems to find space when he moves forward and is a pretty sweet shot for goal. If anything i think we have an embarassment of riches up forward!

 

[shawthing09]

I personally don't think it is a matter of having the best backs on him. It is more an opposition lack of respect for the other fowards and a lack of some structure in the foward line without Rocca. When Trav goes leading up the ground he often has no appealing option to go to I50. Which is not helped by the fact his not the best field kick or decision maker.

When Trav stays deep we often break down around half foward. Trav really needs Rocca there this year. Beyond that he probably needs for either Dawes to make it as a lead up CHF or Rusling or Anthony to make it as a deep foward.

 

[daics cousin]

I think that Travis,should now come out of the shadows,and take more responsibilty.
He has been in the system now for how long 4-5 years?
Travis has the ability,he is strong he can kick and he is quick.The only thing is he is not confident......that's what he needs to become elite.
So come on trav time to stand up now.
Can't expect much from rocca now,he will be gone at year's end the american football league beckons for Rocca.
It's now up to cloke and dawes to become the 2 power forwards.
So come on.

 

[jackcass]

I personally don't think scoring and forward capacity or even reliance on TC is an issue. The team demonstrated last year that they're capable of kicking winning scores without Pebbles. We have numbers of options available to offer that support.

 

[spartan-magpie]

i think roccas absence may have been a blessing for cloke... he needs to understand he is going to be our number big man for the next decade... natural progression of dawes, rusling, reid an JA will just provide a chop out for him on bad days... look for cloke, only 22, to own games this season.. looks fit, strong and on song thus far...

 

[Heater39]

If Trav is as good as we all talk him up to be then he should be able to play as our number 1 forward who cops the best defender each week and kick 50+ goals for the year.

 

[Optimax]

If rocca can play 15+ he will be fine, but alot depends on JA/Rus/dawes when they play if they can be damaging so they muct have respect paid to them and Trav cant get double teamed he will be more then fine

 

[Old Spice]

We've got lots of scoring options up forward which is good, but i thought last Friday both Cloke and Anthony seemed to have a defender glued to thei shoulders. Rocca's presence will really help Cloke and the ohters. If he's double teamed then all the better for the other forwards. If Rocca is one on one he can outbody and mark well - hence most contested marks in the league in 2007. Cloke and Anthony I haven't seen hold a spot and outwrestle the defenders like Rocca can - they take their marks mainly on leads.

 

[Skade]

We've got lots of scoring options up forward which is good, but i thought last Friday both Cloke and Anthony seemed to have a defender glued to thei shoulders. Rocca's presence will really help Cloke and the others. If he's double teamed then all the better for the other forwards. If Rocca is one on one he can out body and mark well - hence most contested marks in the league in 2007. Cloke and Anthony I haven't seen hold a spot and outwrestle the defenders like Rocca can - they take their marks mainly on leads.

He did the same in 2006.

 

[FloreatPica17]

The question was posed recently on BF, 'who will be our next elite player'?
It really stumped me ... initially I didn't think we had one.
Now, I reckon Cloke.

His will to work on his game is his greatest strength, it will show eventually.
We'll be talking about him in Riewoldt, Brown, Pavlich class by season's end. I have faith

 

[Da Big Kahuna]

Trav looked in good touch against WC, like all big forwards the key is to stay injury free.

The advantage Trav has over other gun key forwards is that he is part of a forward, he isn't the forward. He's supported by the best small forward brigade in the comp. Hopefully Rocca can stay fit and either Jack Anthony or Rusling can play bit to give us a third marking option (even though Medders is a marking option as well). Collingwood really shouldnt have a problem kicking winning scores.

 

[richo2308]

if Rusling and Anthony play most of the year it will take a lot of attention off Cloke and hopefully he will get back to his 2007 form.

 

[rotten pie]

Cloke only needs 2-3 goals per-game to hit the 50 mark witch shouldn't be to hard. The main diff between Trav and Ant is that Ant is a real focal point up forward when he is on song, where as Trav is almost an after thought when he's our main forward. Things will change in a year or two after Ant has left and the responsibility of main target falls back on Trav. From memory Ant wasn't the greatest CHF at the same age when Sav was the main option in thye forward 50. So i say hold your horses cause Trav is still only 21 and the future looks very bright with Trav in the forward line for the next 10 years!