SA Footy

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH wrote:
COLLINGWOOD star Travis Cloke was taken to hospital after he was attacked by a group of revellers on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Cloke, 21, was set upon by a group at the holiday units he was staying at with friends while on a break in Maroochydore on New Year's Eve.

The Magpie forward was taken to hospital and discharged later that night.

It was originally feared Cloke had a fractured cheekbone, but after seeing scans the club last night was confident he had escaped serious injury.

He will be further assessed by club doctors when he returns to Melbourne in the next two days.

Cloke's father, David, rushed to be with his son yesterday, but did not want to comment last night.

Collingwood football operations chief Geoff Walsh confirmed the attack

"He was attacked up on the Sunshine Coast. He was up on holidays," Walsh said.

"There was a bit of an altercation at the units he was staying at. Some guys I think were carrying on and throwing ice around and Travis and his mate were trying to get them to stop.

"From what I understand, from what his dad tells me, he was set upon by a number of blokes. It resulted in him having to go to hospital, but he was discharged pretty quickly.

"It's disappointing for him. From what we understand, he was trying to do the right thing but he was out-numbered by a number of guys and he copped a hiding."

Walsh said Cloke had given a statement to police, but was unsure if there would be any charges laid.

"I know he has given a statement to police . . . I suppose that is something they decide over the next couple of days once the dust settles," he said.

Walsh said Cloke would return to Melbourne in the next couple of days and club doctors would examine him to assess his injuries.

"We don't know the full extent . . . he may have a fracture in his cheekbone from being hit," he said.

"We're not sure yet, we'll see when he gets back to Melbourne in the next couple of days. That's what our guys will do - they'll have a look at him when he gets back down here."

Cloke is one of the keys of the Magpies forward line and played 23 games in last year, kicking 40 goals.

Herald Sun wrote:MAGPIE Travis Cloke is driving home to Melbourne after being hurt in a New Year's Eve attack on the Sunshine Coast. Cloke, 21, was advised not to fly as a precaution after suffering facial injuries when set upon by a group of revellers in Maroochydore.

Cloke is being driven almost 1800km by his father, David, and is expected back in Melbourne tonight.

David Cloke said his son had suffered swelling and bruising around the nose and face, but he could not confirm if there was any structural damage until Collingwood's medical staff examined him.

"He is doing a lot better," David Cloke said.

"He has got bruising around the nose and face and quite a bit of swelling.

"He couldn't fly back because there maybe is a suspicion that there could be some problem and because of the air pressure.

"It's a precautionary thing. We're pretty confident that everything will be all right."

Sunshine Coast police yesterday interviewed people over the incident.

"We have said to the police that we want charges laid, and they have the names of people," David Cloke said.

"We'll see what unfolds down the line."

He said his son, Magpie best and fairest in 2007, had been shaken up by the incident.

"He was taken by surprise," he said.

"There were some guys causing trouble and he and two mates just went up and said, 'Look, just cut it out'.

"Initially one of them was polite about the whole thing and really nice, and then all of a sudden, without notice, they (Cloke and friends) got jumped and a number of them got stuck into them."

Collingwood players return to the club after their Christmas break on Monday, but it is unclear if Cloke will resume normal training immediately.

"He will see a doctor first and they might say you are better off for a couple more days doing some limited stuff to make sure everything settles down properly," David Cloke said.

"In the short term, missing a couple of days is going to make it better for the longer term when he gets back into full stuff."

Sunshine Coast police Supt Ben Hanbidge said a group of party-goers was being interviewed over the incident at Maroochydore's Sebel Resort.

"We have received a complaint from Mr Cloke and his allegations or his complaint is subject to an investigation by Sunshine Coast detectives," he said.

Punk Rooster wrote:No matter who, where or how, the continued picking off of AFL players (past or present) is disgusting & an act of cowardice.

Punk Rooster wrote:Travis Cloke (Collingood) is being driven back to Melbourne, after being bashed in an unprovoked incident on NYE.
He is unable to fly due to the nature of his injuries.

No matter who, where or how, the continued picking off of AFL players (past or present) is disgusting & an act of cowardice.

Bat Pad wrote:How do you know it was unprovoked? Im not willing to take Collingwoods word for it. Wouldnt be the first time a club has either covered up facts or claimed an incident was unprovoked when it wasnt. Is it confirmed as unprovoked from an independent, unbiased source?

MatteeG wrote:The conspiracy theory begins....

Interceptor wrote:Man charged with assaulting Travis Cloke has been killed in a motorcycle crash:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25125769-952,00.html

bayman wrote:

Interceptor wrote:Man charged with assaulting Travis Cloke has been killed in a motorcycle crash:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25125769-952,00.html

karma