CLOKE CALLS TIME AFTER 256 GAMES
No room at Kennel, so ex-Pie calls time on career
FOOTY was Travis Cloke’s greatest love and greatest hate in one of the most scrutinised AFL careers in recent memory.
But the 30-year-old is preparing for a life beyond football after falling out of favour with the Western Bulldogs, where his attempt to recapture his best form ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Cloke announced his retirement yesterday, having played 256 games and booted 452 career goals.
A hulking key forward who was recruited by Collingwood as a father-son selection, he played in the Magpies’ 2010 premiership side and was their leading goalkicker for four consecutive seasons.
Critics were never far away, however, with his kicking in front of goal a subject of particular scrutiny.
The dual All-Australian was traded to the Bulldogs at the end of the 2016 season but grappled with mental health issues and inconsistent form, playing 10 games and falling behind other forwards in the pecking order.
He said he would retire with mixed feelings towards the game given the harsh glare of public expectation that followed him.
“Sometimes three or four times in a day, you can fall in and out of love with footy,” he said.
“It’s a game that I grew up with. My Dad played, my brothers played. I’ve been involved with Collingwood since I did work experience as a 14-year-old kid there.
“I don’t know any different. Footy’s my love. Footy’s the thing I hate most, but at the same time I’ll always go back to it.”
List manager Jason McCartney said the Bulldogs’ trade period — including recruiting key forward Josh Schache — had led the club to hold talks with Cloke about his future.
With a year to run on his deal, he had wanted to play on but accepted he was unlikely to earn senior selection, adding contracts did not appear to mean much now.
One of several players to take time away from the sport to deal with mental health issues this season, he said he had struggled to filter out the personal abuse that followed him on social media.
“Mentally and physically, I was a wreck,” he said.
“I feel sorry for the kids who are coming through now.
“You can pick your phone up — they’re amazing devices — but at the same time they’re s--- for what they can do.”
Cloke said he was keen to remain involved in football, potentially in a development coaching role.
But his immediate focus will be on becoming a father, with wife Becky due to give birth to a baby girl next week. AAP