It’s no secret that Travis Cloke battled some inner-demons during his AFL career and today he has spoken about the moment he broke down at the end of a weights session.
The former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs forward told the Don’t Argue Podcast that the intense scrutiny placed on him took its toll on him towards the end of his career.
“It was strange kind of moment, I was sitting in the changerooms one day, I had finished weights training in the morning and I was sitting there and I just broke down,” Cloke said.
“I called my manager and called my dad and said ‘I don’t know if footy is for me anymore’. They said ‘what do you mean?’
“I think it was the toll of however many years, because for how long I was feeling like that I had no idea.
“But to explain it to close mates, teammates, family and the footy club, it’s an unusual conversation to have.
“Do I know exactly what was wrong? No. Am I perfect now? No. I probably never will be, but at the same time I’m in a place which is good.
“I’m pretty clear with where I want to go and what I want to do, and life is a lot simpler now that’s for sure.
Cloke says the anonymity of social media is becoming a big issue when it comes to the mental health of players.
“I feel for the young kids coming through now with all of the social media. You can pick up a phone and create an account with no accountability, that’s my issue.”
After retiring from football at the end of last year, Cloke says he is in a much better headspace now and will begin his new career in development coaching at Vic Metro and Yarra Valley Grammar.
The two-time All Australian also spoke on the move of the Western Bulldogs to trade Jake Stringer out of the club and label him the scapegoat for their slump in form last year.
“It’s a shame they had to move on players like Jake Stringer because he was the heart and soul of the footy club, and he was so close to all of those boys,” he said.
“‘String’ has cut some corners here and there, but he’s not the first footballer to do it and he shouldn’t have been the scapegoat to chuck him out.
“I wish him all of the best, obviously he’s going through a little bit as well, which has been well documented over the last couple of months.
“He will fit well into the Essendon program, he’s a jet of a footballer, so if he can apply himself to what he needs not what others need him to (he will perform) because he is probably not able to put 100 per cent into footy, that’s not him.
“I’ve seen some of the best footballers apply only 50 per cent and get the best out of themselves and still be a superstar.”
Cloke says he also feels for his original club Collingwood and he hopes the club can put together some good form for their coach Nathan Buckley.
“I feel for them, every day, and the way they’re going because they are a better side than what they are showing at the moment,” he said.
“When they get those four or five players back (from injury) it will change, but it’s a hard thing to see because there is that one guy at the top, Nathan Buckley who is the one who cops all the criticism.
“He has got a heart of gold. I hope they can turn it around, because they probably could have won at the weekend if GWS didn’t have a couple of their superstars turn it on for them.”
