Travis Cloke has called time on his AFL career, even though he was still proficient in 2017 and claims to still have the desire to play on.
The veteran key forward played for the Western Bulldogs this season and the club confirmed that Cloke was moving on to another phase in his life in an announcement made soon after the end of the trade period.
Cloke and the club had a meeting, where the Bulldogs showed enough class to let him know that he might not see a lot of playing time with the senior team in 2018.
“The fire was still there to play on, but I appreciate the club being honest about my prospects of playing senior football next year,” Cloke said in a statement.
Clark addressed some comments to the media. “It’s an unusual situation to be in at the end of October, start of November, retiring. But it’s something that comes inevitably at some time of your career,” Cloke told reporters.“It’s a tough industry to be part of.”
Cloke spent 12 seasons with the Collingwood Magpies. Seasons 2011, 2012 and 2013 probably saw him playing his best footy, at least in terms of goal scoring, where he kicked 69, 59 and 68.
He was limited to 10 appearances with the Dogs in 2017 and did not get there in time to enjoy their miracle premiership, but he did capture one flag with the Pies in 2010, although he did not score, other than one behind.
Cloke booted 441 for the Pies in 246 games. The club traded him to the Dogs following 2016 on a two-year deal, but he will not see out that contract.
In a statement issued by the club, the Bulldogs said, “We’d like to congratulate Travis on an outstanding career, for his contribution to the Western Bulldogs in 2017, and wish him and his family the best for the future.”
Statistically, Cloke is just over 30 years of age, so this retirement could be of the temporary sort, which seems to have become all the rage in recent years, regardless of the sport being considered.
