David Cloke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | January 28, 1955, Victoria |
| Recruited from | Oakleigh
|
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | 1974, Richmond vs. , at |
| Team(s) | Richmond (1974-82, 1990-91)
219 Games, 272 Goals Collingwood (1983-89) 114 Games, 51 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
|
|
David Cloke (born January 28, 1955) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.
Cloke was a powerful ruckman and occasional forward who enjoyed a marvellous career at two VFL/AFL clubs. He began with Oakleigh where he played alongside his brother Peter, and in 1974 he went to Richmond. A premiership player in his debut season with the Tigers, Cloke went on to afford great service in 219 VFL games from 1974 to 1982 (including another winning Grand Final in 1980) and in 1990-91. In between, he played with equal effectiveness for Collingwood, where he added another 114 league games, winning fans of the Magpies over quickly despite his defection from a great rival club.
Always a threat when resting in the forward lines, Cloke booted a total of 323 goals during his eighteen season VFL career, before retiring in 1991. Cloke came 2nd in the Brownlow Medal in 1984, 3 votes behind winner Peter Moore. He achieved All Australian selection after representing Victoria at the Perth state of origin carnival of 1979.
In 1992 he joined smaller club Ainslie as captain-coach, and promptly steered them to a flag, a success repeated the following year when he won the Alex Jesaulenko Trophy for best afield in the grand final. Somewhat surprisingly, given his all round value for the teams he played with, David Cloke's only club best and fairest award came in 1992 with Ainslie. He did, however, achieve All Australian selection after representing Victoria at the Perth state of origin carnival of 1979.
David's three sons, Jason, Cameron and Travis are all playing in the AFL for Collingwood. He is married to Julie.
