Saint player sledge ALMOST ended Clokes career

[Joffa Burns]

Heard this story before, my understanding is it was the cousin of a a notable champion saint

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... a03c64f31a


SACKED podcast preview: Travis Cloke reveals the VFL sledge which almost ended his career
Travis Cloke has revealed he almost quit AFL midway through his only season at Whitten Oval after he was repeatedly sedged by an opponent during a VFL game about his mental health.

Travis Cloke has revealed he almost quit the Western Bulldogs halfway through 2017 after a St Kilda-listed player sledged him about his mental health during a VFL game.

Cloke had stepped away from football with anxiety issues only weeks before in his single year with the Bulldogs.

The club publicly acknowledged he was battling with his mental health.

Yet in that first game for Footscray’s VFL side, an AFL player taking the field for St Kilda’s VFL affiliate Sandringham cut him to the bone with repeated insults about his mental health.

He told the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast he almost punched the player, but was so demoralised he later considered immediately walking away from football.

Cloke declined to reveal the identity of the player, no longer at the Saints, but says he could not believe in today’s environment the player could be so callous.

“I was playing in the VFL for the Dogs. I think it was my first game back from having a bit of a lay-off,” he said.

“I was down at Sandringham playing down there. One of the players turned around with a remark or a sledge.

“I haven't repeated it and I didn’t even make an official complaint even though I thought it was disgusting.

“He was a young player and I didn't want him to be tarred by this reputation and sledge for the rest of his career.

“But definitely it resonated with me to the point where I almost walked off the field.”

Cloke said he alerted the umpires straight away and later told the coaches.

“Things were done, but not enough in my eyes,” he said.

“I am still waiting for a call to apologise, that’s how disgusting it was.

“I guess that was more the moment where I was thinking, ‘This is bulls***, what I am putting myself through the stress of this game of football for when some 20-year-old kid can turn around and say what he said’.”

Cloke said the sledges were deliberate and sustained, not a single throwaway line.

“Yeah definitely. When remarks come out about mental health that are repeated a couple of times, the first time something is said is water off a duck’s back,” he said.

“That’s all right, it’s a competitive game, but the second and third time, enough is enough, and it almost pushed me over the line. I almost stopped the game, went over and grabbed him. “That was the point where I was at. I was pretty lucky the halftime siren went and I obviously removed myself from the situation in the rooms.

“The umpire came up to me because I told him to do something about it or I will do it myself as the second half starts.

“I wasn’t afraid to get suspended at the back end of my career, a weekend off is not a bad thing. It definitely crossed my mind after that game. Do I even want to play again?

“Do I want to step back out on the field and put myself back in that situation or if someone does do it again what am I going to do, am I going to snap?

“And that’s not normally in my character. Yes, in my career I got reported a couple of times for silly incidents but nothing that was over the top or brutal but this would have pushed me to that stage.”

Cloke said the Saints player was not held accountable.

“I didn’t want him to be suspended, I didn’t want him to miss games of footy, but education is so important and that didn’t happen,” he said.

“An official from the football club did reach out purely because I had a relationship with them, but it wasn’t enough for me.

“I wouldn’t say the dogs brushed it under the carpet, they did all that they could to help me and support me which is great, but I guess that club with the player involved didn’t do enough in my eyes.”

[Enrico_Misso]

HG!?

[Munga]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

[saintspremiers]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

Hopefully it was Acres as he’s the only one still playing and not for us

[Joffa Burns]

HG!?

That was my understanding, but above posts indicate he didn't play that day so I have no idea.

[saynta]

HG!?

That was my understanding, but above posts indicate he didn't play that day so I have no idea.

Knowing the Clokes , probably a bulls*** story.

[BigD]

I remember that day.
I can say that if it was anything like the sledging that he got from Can Hill, I’m surprised he wasn’t curled up in the foetal position beside the point post by quarter time!

[bigcarl]

Sounds like it may have been Acres. He’s the only one of those cocky enough to try a stunt like that.

It’s a pity for him, thus far, that he hasn’t been able to match performances to his ego and ability.

[lewdogs]

Sounds like it may have been Acres. He’s the only one of those cocky enough to try a stunt like that.

It’s a pity for him, thus far, that he hasn’t been able to match performances to his ego and ability.

If it was Blake then it makes trading him look like an even better move.

[kosifantutti]

Maybe it was Connellan and he just didn’t understand what he was saying.

[saynta]

Who gives a f***?. Not I .

[CURLY]

Yep not many f**** given by me also.

[Scollop]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

My guess is either White or Rice

[saynta]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

My guess is either White or Rice

So you are prepared to defame not one but two former saints players on the unsubstantiated word of a former filth player?

[The_Dud]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

My guess is either White or Rice

So you are prepared to defame not one but two former saints players on the unsubstantiated word of a former filth player?

Some of you guts would defend Jack the Ripper if he had some connection to the Saints.

[ausfatcat]

Sounds like it may have been Acres. He’s the only one of those cocky enough to try a stunt like that.

It’s a pity for him, thus far, that he hasn’t been able to match performances to his ego and ability.

If it was Blake then it makes trading him look like an even better move.

I think it was on the sacked podcast he said the player has moved clubs now I don't think any of the others have gone to other clubs.

[The Fireman]

How soft are AFL players becoming ?

[Special]

How soft are AFL players becoming ?

I tend to agree on this case. Cloke had a great career but he was cooked. Even the greatest of them all - Plugger - was old and slow and useless in his final comeback year at Sydney.

I don’t always buy the mental health card in every instance.

[Scollop]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

My guess is either White or Rice

So you are prepared to defame not one but two former saints players on the unsubstantiated word of a former filth player?

There you go passing judgement again... I’m playing the guessing game

I’m not commenting on whether it was true, or whether it is politically correct

Are we going to start discussing what is acceptable and what isn’t as far as sledging is concerned?

[saynta]

Played that day and no longer at the club:

O'Kearney
Connellan
Wright
White
Acres
Rice
Holmes

Probably deserved a whack whoever said it

My guess is either White or Rice

So you are prepared to defame not one but two former saints players on the unsubstantiated word of a former filth player?

There you go passing judgement again... I’m playing the guessing game

I’m not commenting on whether it was true, or whether it is politically correct

Are we going to start discussing what is acceptable and what isn’t as far as sledging is concerned?

You were the one passing judgment on a couple of saints players without any evidence ffs. Don't try and right it off as merely playing a f****** guessing game.

That's just a cop out and stop with the f****** personal attacks.

[The Fireman]

why dont you guys pm each other ?

[saynta]

why dont you guys pm each other ?

Could not be bothered ffs.

I only PM friends.

[ace]

Some of you guts would defend Jack the Ripper if he had some connection to the Saints.

Jack certainly would have played at St Kilda.
If only one of our Jacks were a ripper.

[ace]

HG!?

Huge call that.

[ace]

How soft are AFL players becoming ?

Well at the moment they are getting paid to NOT play.