Umps okay with Cloke treatment

Collingwood's Travis Cloke is hoping for better officiating in his 200th AFL match, with the Pie being on the wrong end of several decisions so far in 2014

Collingwood star Travis Cloke in a Cat sandwich. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

THE AFL umpiring department said today it had no problems with the lack of free kicks paid to Collingwood full-forward Travis Cloke on the weekend.

Geelong defender Tom Lonergan appeared to hold Cloke in several marking contests on Saturday night, but went unpenalised throughout the match.

"While reviewing the Saturday's Collingwood-Geelong match the umpiring department looked at a few incidents involving Travis Cloke, but gave them the all clear,'' AFL umpire's coach Hayden Kennedy said on Tuesday.

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Vision from the match shows that Cloke appeared to be clearly infringed on at least three occasions. Midway through the first quarter Lonergan grabbed Cloke by the jumper while spoiling; early in the third term he collected Cloke high in a marking contest; and early in the last quarter he chopped Cloke's arms, tackled him without the ball and then fell into his back.

Cloke is brought down by Geelong defender Tom Lonergan. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire joked on Monday that instead of having dancers as entertainment in Friday night's match against Richmond, the Magpies would "have a massive moment if Travis Cloke actually gets a free kick for the first time in ten years''.

"There seems to be a whole rule there for Travis Cloke: you can do whatever you like to him, you can run into his back,'' McGuire said during his Triple M breakfast show.

"I'm just interested in how Travis Cloke is singled out. Last year if he touched anyone, 'oh, free kick'. This year 'away you go, just jump on top of him. Have your own rules'.''

In the pre- season Cloke spoke of how he hoped a new interpretation on the use of body strength in marking contests might work in his favour.

"If you're allowed to push a bit more and use a bit more of your body I'm all for it," Cloke said in December.

Cloke has his arm locked in a marking contest. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

"I got pinged last year pretty heavily for using what I thought was appropriate bodywork, but it's changed up a bit. I guess in the second half of (2013) the rules get pushed out a bit more and it's a little bit easier to use your body and umpires let the game flow a bit more.''

Cloke, who will play his 200th match against the Tigers, has received one free kick from his three matches this season and conceded four.

His career statistics are 178 for and 173 against.

Collingwood yesterday declined to comment on the issue, saying it was more concerned about kicking a winning score on Friday night.

AFL great Wayne Carey suggested that the more significant issue for Cloke and the Magpies was that the team was being too predictable in kicking to Cloke in one-on-one situations.

"He is a bit of a victim of his own strength," Carey said on Talking Footy.

"He's been down, hasn't been all his fault, they haven't used him well and they've gone to him at times when they shouldn't have gone to him."

Does Cloke deserve a better run from the umpires?