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david Cloke,true tiger or over-rated,self opiniated try-hard
- Thread starter nitrotiger
- Start date
Pound-for-pound or inch-for-inch David Cloke was IMHO as valuable as any player we have had at Richmond. Yet he wasn't fast, not overly tall to be a stand-out ruckman, and just about the ugliest player ever at dropping the ball onto his kicking foot. As a CHF he was the total opposite in style to Royce Hart.
So what made him so good? These are some of his best attributes:-
1. Had great bulk and knew how to use it. Basically he could bust open a pack at CHF with sheer body strength resulting in either a mark(often chest rather than overhead), knocking the ball out to the crumbers(of which we had the best like Hungry, Wiley and Flea) or taking 2-3 defenders out of the contest. To be doing this in a team which had Roach at full-forward made us the most potent of attacking forces. In boxing parlance it was the old 1-2 combination. Watch the 1980 Grand final replay and it is there for all to see.
2. Versatility. CHF, rucking in the centre or at boundary throw-ins, or marking a kick-behind-the-play to nullify the opposition attack....... often all in the same game.
3. Durability. For a big man he was unique. Seasons/games/soundness..... you name it! I doubt if he spent any time at all off the field during a game and it would have been a brave/silly coach to ever drag him to an I/C bench(if they existed back then?). Like many I was shattered when he moved to the Pies but dismissed it thinking his career was twilighting. He gave them fantastic value for so many years..... and then returned home and continued giving us great service. I put his initial move down to club politics(s**t happens
), just as I do with the saga regarding his sons...... but I refuse to connect any of this with what he gave us on the battlefield..... where it counts most.
4. Bloody-minded determination/focus For mine he ranks up there with the immortal Francis Bourke in this aspect. Whether he muffed a kick(just like Richo), got involved in the physical stuff, or his side was 10 goals down and into the wind..... Clokey was instantly jogging/waddling(in his inimitable style) to position for the next phase of play. He was a non-stop, 100% "goer".
5. Leadership/inspiration Big and menacing, with a moustache to match. He exemplified the Tiger's spirit. The little guys felt a whole lot safer with Clokey controlling the packs.
Yes, David Cloke is a true Tiger legend. For those who did not have the pleasure of watching him play I'll explain it this way........ in a game he did everything and more as one player than we now get from Stafford, Noble and Simmonds combined. Add up their current salary packages and that tells you how valuable he would be in our current team.
So what made him so good? These are some of his best attributes:-
1. Had great bulk and knew how to use it. Basically he could bust open a pack at CHF with sheer body strength resulting in either a mark(often chest rather than overhead), knocking the ball out to the crumbers(of which we had the best like Hungry, Wiley and Flea) or taking 2-3 defenders out of the contest. To be doing this in a team which had Roach at full-forward made us the most potent of attacking forces. In boxing parlance it was the old 1-2 combination. Watch the 1980 Grand final replay and it is there for all to see.
2. Versatility. CHF, rucking in the centre or at boundary throw-ins, or marking a kick-behind-the-play to nullify the opposition attack....... often all in the same game.
3. Durability. For a big man he was unique. Seasons/games/soundness..... you name it! I doubt if he spent any time at all off the field during a game and it would have been a brave/silly coach to ever drag him to an I/C bench(if they existed back then?). Like many I was shattered when he moved to the Pies but dismissed it thinking his career was twilighting. He gave them fantastic value for so many years..... and then returned home and continued giving us great service. I put his initial move down to club politics(s**t happens
), just as I do with the saga regarding his sons...... but I refuse to connect any of this with what he gave us on the battlefield..... where it counts most. 4. Bloody-minded determination/focus For mine he ranks up there with the immortal Francis Bourke in this aspect. Whether he muffed a kick(just like Richo), got involved in the physical stuff, or his side was 10 goals down and into the wind..... Clokey was instantly jogging/waddling(in his inimitable style) to position for the next phase of play. He was a non-stop, 100% "goer".
5. Leadership/inspiration Big and menacing, with a moustache to match. He exemplified the Tiger's spirit. The little guys felt a whole lot safer with Clokey controlling the packs.
Yes, David Cloke is a true Tiger legend. For those who did not have the pleasure of watching him play I'll explain it this way........ in a game he did everything and more as one player than we now get from Stafford, Noble and Simmonds combined. Add up their current salary packages and that tells you how valuable he would be in our current team.
Ironic that this thread should come back up again. I was just rereading the 1982 GF entry into the Graeme Atkinson book on VFL Finals.
At half time the scores were:
Carl 6.11 - that's 17 scoring shots
Rich 9.4 - that's 13 scoring shots
In the third quarter Carlton came out and kicked 5.4 to our 0.6.
The streaker came out at the 10 minute mark of the 3rd quarter during Carlton's goal kicking burst.
The key elements of the 3rd quarter.
Johnston going onto Raines in the centre.
Harmes going onto Bartlett.
The key elements of the game overall:
1. In the previous match the Tigers had cut Carlton's defensive rebounding ability by giving away heaps of 15 metre penalties. It stopped the Blues. In the Grand Final Carlton had woken up and decided to do the very same thing to the Tigers. Ie, giving away heaps of 15 mtre penalties to slow down the game.
2. A few top matchups by the Carlton brainstrust, Perovic on Roach, Doull on Jess, Bortolotto on Cloke, and the shifting of Mary Maclure away from CHF, with Fitzpatrick going to CHF and kicking 2 goals instead. McConville into the forward line, with 2 goals in the second half, paid dividends too.
A couple of other things to consider:
1. The Tigers played only 2 games in 4 weeks.
2. The GF was Jess's first game in 5 weeks.
3. Maybe the Tiges just played all their cards one game too early. Never held any fresh ones for GF day.
At half time the scores were:
Carl 6.11 - that's 17 scoring shots
Rich 9.4 - that's 13 scoring shots
In the third quarter Carlton came out and kicked 5.4 to our 0.6.
The streaker came out at the 10 minute mark of the 3rd quarter during Carlton's goal kicking burst.
The key elements of the 3rd quarter.
Johnston going onto Raines in the centre.
Harmes going onto Bartlett.
The key elements of the game overall:
1. In the previous match the Tigers had cut Carlton's defensive rebounding ability by giving away heaps of 15 metre penalties. It stopped the Blues. In the Grand Final Carlton had woken up and decided to do the very same thing to the Tigers. Ie, giving away heaps of 15 mtre penalties to slow down the game.
2. A few top matchups by the Carlton brainstrust, Perovic on Roach, Doull on Jess, Bortolotto on Cloke, and the shifting of Mary Maclure away from CHF, with Fitzpatrick going to CHF and kicking 2 goals instead. McConville into the forward line, with 2 goals in the second half, paid dividends too.
A couple of other things to consider:
1. The Tigers played only 2 games in 4 weeks.
2. The GF was Jess's first game in 5 weeks.
3. Maybe the Tiges just played all their cards one game too early. Never held any fresh ones for GF day.
