Football reporter Nick Bowen says that the Western Bulldogs are already overjoyed at their decision to pick up former Collingwood forward Travis Cloke after an impressive first pre-season at his new club so far.
The AFL.com.au writer, who was present at the Bulldogs’ training during the week, says that the 29-year-old has made an instant impact at Whitten Oval and looks an exciting prospect for the Dogs’ forward line this year.
“They’re really rapt with him,” Bowen said on SEN SportSENtral.
“He looks a million bucks. He’s always had a great tank for a big bloke.
“I was speaking to (fellow Dogs forward) Lachie Hunter out there and he said that in match simulation, having Travis down there is just amazing. They’ve got another big imposing target to look to.”
Bowen says that the introduction of Cloke and Stewart Crameri, who has returned to the Dogs last last year following a 12 month suspension for his involvement in former club Essendon’s long-winded supplements saga, will give a massive boost to the 2016 premiers.
“You sort of forget that the Dogs winning a premiership, they really did fashion an attack at the end. It was a bit of a makeshift one. Tom Boyd had a coming of age finals series that really helped,” he said.
“If he can continue his progression and Travis can get back to the form that we know he can do… and you whack in Stewart Crameri as well, who’s probably more of your lead-up forward but who is capable of taking some strong marks running back as well, gee the forward line down there looks exciting, doesn’t it?
“We’ve got to remember that this is a team that has won the flag as well and is looking to enter this season with a dramatically strengthened forward line.”
The AFL Media reporter believes that Cloke may also be used higher up the ground to make use of what he calls a “beautiful field kick”.
“There is talk of him using his endurance to push up the ground and play that lead-up role at times. I think the beauty of that would be is that he has always been a beautiful field kick,” said Bowen.
“We know he’s had his issues with set shots but similar to a player like Lindsay Thomas, who has always been a beautiful field kick, it is just that mental aspect of having to convert a set shot.
“I think the Dogs see that if they can get him up, utilise that endurance and have him kicking into the forward 50, that’s definitely an aspect of his game that they want to utilise.”
Click here to view Travis Cloke's SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings.
Click here to view Stewart Crameri's SEN Inside Football AFL PLayer Ratings.