A few weeks ago I was sure there would be no way but now I'm starting to think this could happen.

With Clark injured and Green retiring our forward line is, at best, hardly functional.

We seem to be getting the ball in there often enough but we're not converting.

In other words we're failing, bad, in this area and we have to fix it because Clark can't carry the weight on his own when he is fit.

Enter Cloke.

This fixes the issue with one guy going down and with both in, we have a very decent forward line.

The mid-field is almost as bad as our forward line. So that would be the second area I'd look at and as such I think Davey could well be on the chopping block now to free up the coin to secure a Cloke and an experienced mid-fielder because this is a gaping hole we need filled.

A few weeks ago I was sure there would be no way but now I'm starting to think this could happen.

With Clark injured and Green retiring our forward line is, at best, hardly functional.

We seem to be getting the ball in there often enough but we're not converting.

In other words we're failing, bad, in this area and we have to fix it because Clark can't carry the weight on his own when he is fit.

Enter Cloke.

This fixes the issue with one guy going down and with both in, we have a very decent forward line.

The mid-field is almost as bad as our forward line. So that would be the second area I'd look at and as such I think Davey could well be on the chopping block now to free up the coin to secure a Cloke and an experienced mid-fielder because this is a gaping hole we need filled.

Throw in the fact we might never see Jurrah again too.

Throw in the fact we might never see Jurrah again too.

Yep - Green gone, Jurrah possibly, Petterd, Bate, Dunn haven't shown enough/might be delisted, Watts playing down back - Cloke would complement Clark nicely.

Part of me just wants Cloke just to show the AFL community that we can land a big name player. Clark was a good start, and the club is talking about being active this year and having a war chest. I just want to see it.

He is having a bad season, but we know he can play well. He doesn't strike me as the sort of player that can cope with off field distractions... he was poor after being smacked around on the Gold Coast,... but the next couple of years were pretty impressive.

... it is a lot of coin though.

... it is a lot of coin though.

Don't stress brother... This is the football department's and clubs decision - and they will live and die by this same sword

I am in the get Cloke camp.... wheather he wants to come to the Dees is another question

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by Unleash Hell

A few weeks ago I was sure there would be no way but now I'm starting to think this could happen.

With Clark injured and Green retiring our forward line is, at best, hardly functional.

We seem to be getting the ball in there often enough but we're not converting.

In other words we're failing, bad, in this area and we have to fix it because Clark can't carry the weight on his own when he is fit.

Enter Cloke.

This fixes the issue with one guy going down and with both in, we have a very decent forward line.

The mid-field is almost as bad as our forward line. So that would be the second area I'd look at and as such I think Davey could well be on the chopping block now to free up the coin to secure a Cloke and an experienced mid-fielder because this is a gaping hole we need filled.

Even before Clark got injured our forward line was dis-functional. Basically most of his productivity was a result of brilliant individual efforts from his part with scant real support from the rest of the forward line or midfield. Over the season it has made little difference with or without him. Bringing in another big marking forward won't fix our forward line problem. A player like Cloke looks awesome with quality delivery and support from his team mates but would be a spud in a team like ours unless we can suddenly develop a productive midfield, quality half forwards with a viable game plan and skills. When Collingwood's game breaks down occasionally as it did last week he starts to look like James Seller playing forward.

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by america de cali

Even before Clark got injured our forward line was dis-functional. Basically most of his productivity was a result of brilliant individual efforts from his part with scant real support from the rest of the forward line or midfield. Over the season it has made little difference with or without him. Bringing in another big marking forward won't fix our forward line problem. A player like Cloke looks awesome with quality delivery and support from his team mates but would be a spud in a team like ours unless we can suddenly develop a productive midfield, quality half forwards with a viable game plan and skills. When Collingwood's game breaks down occasionally as it did last week he starts to look like James Seller playing forward.

I guess the simple question is do you want to bring in another key figure and attempt to win games now??? Or develop through the draft for 2, 3 or 4 more years. The latter is what you are purposing

I guess the simple question is do you want to bring in another key figure and attempt to win games now??? Or develop through the draft for 2, 3 or 4 more years. The latter is what you are purposing

Cloke and some mids will make a huge difference. Why else would the club offer such a huge contract?

Even before Clark got injured our forward line was dis-functional. Basically most of his productivity was a result of brilliant individual efforts from his part with scant real support from the rest of the forward line or midfield. Over the season it has made little difference with or without him. Bringing in another big marking forward won't fix our forward line problem. A player like Cloke looks awesome with quality delivery and support from his team mates but would be a spud in a team like ours unless we can suddenly develop a productive midfield, quality half forwards with a viable game plan and skills. When Collingwood's game breaks down occasionally as it did last week he starts to look like James Seller playing forward.

Which is why we need to get him now, while he is available. Yes, we need the kind of delivery that he is used to getting at the Pies, but it doesn't matter how much quality delivery we are giving to the forwards, if there is no-one there capable of using it well. I'm confident that the recruiting people at the MFC are well aware of this and will be targeting a big effective forward (Cloke) as well as a couple of established and proven quality mids.

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by hardtack

Cloke and some mids will make a huge difference. Why else would the club offer such a huge contract?

That was my question I am posing to America de cali - I want Cloke at the Dees and or any player that can help us win now.....

America de cali was suggesting we develop through the draft

Cloke and some mids will make a huge difference. Why else would the club offer such a huge contract?

Exactly. I'm sure the club had a look at the draft prospects and viney and realized we could actually win some games with cloke Clarke and a good midfield

Which is why we need to get him now, while he is available. Yes, we need the kind of delivery that he is used to getting at the Pies, but it doesn't matter how much quality delivery we are giving to the forwards, if there is no-one there capable of using it well. I'm confident that the recruiting people at the MFC are well aware of this and will be targeting a big effective forward (Cloke) as well as a couple of established and proven quality mids.

Interesting that in a year when everyone is saying Cloke is having a poor year he has still kicked 45 goals.

45 goals into our team this year would see a lot better performance level.

The dees have kicked a total of 208 for the entire team

My point is a player like Cloke would be ineffective in a poor side. All my Collingwood friends say he is fair weather player. When things are tough he disappears, can't handle pressure and is almost a certainty to miss a crucial shot at goal. Not surprising they are always jeering him when things go wrong. Going for someone like him at his price is a blinkered quick fix assuming money will solve our problems ignoring the rest of our game which is still not up to AFL standard all around the ground. He's not worth even half the figures that are being bandied around.

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by america de cali

Interesting that in a year when everyone is saying Cloke is having a poor year he has still kicked 45 goals.

45 goals into our team this year would see a lot better performance level.

The dees have kicked a total of 208 for the entire team

Exactly. 45 goals in a poor year, where his mind is elsewhere. Cloke and 3 mids would change the team dynamics drastically.

Interesting that in a year when everyone is saying Cloke is having a poor year he has still kicked 45 goals.

45 goals into our team this year would see a lot better performance level.

The dees have kicked a total of 208 for the entire team

If Clark was not injured he would have been above that and more. Perhaps hitting 65+. Would not have won us any more games though. How many has Cloke's partner got? Less than 20 I guess

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by america de cali

My point is a player like Cloke would be ineffective in a poor side. All my Collingwood friends say he is fair weather player. When things are tough he disappears, can't handle pressure and is almost a certainty to miss a crucial shot at goal. Not surprising they are always jeering him when things go wrong. Going for someone like him at his price is a blinkered quick fix assuming money will solve our problems ignoring the rest of our game which is still not up to AFL standard all around the ground. He's not worth even half the figures that are being bandied around.

He is worth whatever the clubs believes it can afford to pay him. Yes, he would be ineffective in a poor side, which is precisely why we are saying that we should also be targeting a couple of good mids to compliment him... even if we don't fill all of our positional requirements this year, I would still prefer we get Cloke now while he is available because once he is gone he is gone for good and we will still be relatively impotent up forward regardless of the number of class mids we recruit.

If Clark was not injured he would have been above that and more. Perhaps hitting 65+. Would not have won us any more games though. How many has Cloke's partner got? Less than 20 I guess

But he was!

He is worth whatever the clubs believes it can afford to pay him. Yes, he would be ineffective in a poor side, which is precisely why we are saying that we should also be targeting a couple of good mids to compliment him... even if we don't fill all of our positional requirements this year, I would still prefer we get Cloke now while he is available because once he is gone he is gone for good and we will still be relatively impotent up forward regardless of the number of class mids we recruit.

Sorry Hardtack you are incorrect we will have Cook burning shortly.

All is well.

Sorry Hardtack you are incorrect we will have Cook burning shortly.

All is well.

The way he is pilloried on these forums, would say a few would have him burning at the stake rather than on the field; hmmm, perhaps Cook is an appropriate name?

But he was!

If he kicked a dozen every game we might have had a chance to win a few. How would Cloke fit in a team where all the key performance indicators rank us in the bottom four and our best inside 50 player is ranked 60th(Jones) in the comp? He's going to be a game changer you presume. You're dreaming.

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by america de cali

The way he is pilloried on these forums, would say a few would have him burning at the stake rather than on the field; hmmm, perhaps Cook is an appropriate name?

I was having a small jest!

Cooked might be the better word

If he kicked a dozen every game we might have had a chance to win a few. How would Cloke fit in a team where all the key performance indicators rank us in the bottom four and our best inside 50 player is ranked 60th(Jones) in the comp? He's going to be a game changer you presume. You're dreaming.

No one is suggesting that Cloke is the only player we recruit.

If he kicked a dozen every game we might have had a chance to win a few. How would Cloke fit in a team where all the key performance indicators rank us in the bottom four and our best inside 50 player is ranked 60th(Jones) in the comp? He's going to be a game changer you presume. You're dreaming.

Not quite sure why you thought I had the hots for him.

I was just pointing out that he had kicked 45 goals so far this year

As for being a dreamer

They is not much more you can be following the Dees

I was having a small jest!

As was I :-)

No one is suggesting that Cloke is the only player we recruit.

I am saying he is the wrong type of player for us at the moment. We have a long way to go before a player of his type would be effective for us. Extremely poor value in our current situation.

Edited August 21, 201212 yr by america de cali