Cloke stopped enjoying AFL: Bulldogs coach
Jun 23, 2017 - 2:03 AM Travis Cloke's AFL break could help him to find his love of football again, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has said.Key forward Cloke has taken an indefinite period of leave to deal with mental health issues, which have been affecting him for some time.
Beveridge said the decision came as a surprise but acknowledged the 30-year-old had been struggling to enjoy football.
"We've had some conversations around trying to approach the game with an open mind and enjoying it, and obviously he hasn't been," Beveridge said on Friday.
"The pressure of the game is one thing but Travis has got other things going on in his life that are compounding the mental wellbeing side of things."
Cloke has managed just six goals in six games this year after moving from Collingwood in the off-season.
The 196cm forward was dropped for the Bulldogs' round 10 clash with St Kilda and also missed last week's game against Melbourne.
"I'm really banking on him being able to come good, us being able to support him and him playing again," Beveridge said.
"Hopefully when he comes back he can find a way to enjoy it a little bit."
Cloke has indicated he will continue training but he is also free to spend time away from the club if he wants to.
"He's probably been dealing with a lot of pressure most of his career," Beveridge said.
"We know that there's always been that talk around his goal-kicking and other things, and I've always marvelled at the way he's managed that.
"It's not just his footy. There's other things in his life that are really important to him that he needs to continue to manage ... it's that total package really that he needs to get his head around."
The potentially detrimental effect social media might be having on AFL players has been in sharp focus recently, and Beveridge said clubs are still learning how to best support their players.
"It obviously adds to the pressure when you invite opinion and criticism into your life," he said.
"I get concerned at times. The players are almost commodities (with) their value in the game, and they realise that themselves.
"I don't know how many AFL players don't have a social media presence.
"If there's some revenue to be made from your social media presence I can understand why they go down that track but if there wasn't, I can't understand why they'd do it."
Australian readers seeking support and information about depression can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Source: AAP
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