Having missed only six games over the past six seasons, Travis Cloke’s durability has proven as remarkable as his rise to the AFL’s upper echelon, with the forward poised to play his 200th AFL match this week at just 27.

A two-time All-Australian, Cloke has established himself as the attacking lynchpin of the most successful era in Collingwood’s modern history, booting 353 goals while spearheading the side to eight consecutive finals series, three Grand Finals and one premiership.

Cloke has kicked 34 goals in 19 finals, ranking him sixth in club history for goals kicked during September.

His debut was a baptism of fire, pulling on the Black and White for the first time as an 18-year-old against Essendon on ANZAC Day 2005.

Cloke was still completing his VCE at Yarra Valley Grammar during his first season at league level but still managed to play 15 of a possible 22 games.

The man mountain established himself as the lynchpin in the Collingwood forward line during his Copeland Trophy season in 2007, kicking 39 goals and taking 186 marks at centre half forward.

His finals series was superb, kicking seven goals in three matches including three from 14 marks against Geelong in the famous Preliminary Final at the tender age of 20.

Named at centre half forward in the All-Australian teams of 2011 and 2013, Cloke has averaged 65.3 goals in his past three seasons and still appears to have plenty of high quality football ahead of him.

After all, durability is a famed trait of the Cloke family.

Travis’ father David played 333 games for Richmond and Collingwood between 1974 and 1991, while older brothers Jason (76 games) and Cameron (21 games) each spent time on the club’s list during the early-mid 2000s.

It is fitting that Cloke will reach the 200 game milestone against the Tigers.

His father played 219 of his 333 games for the men from Punt Road, prompting much debate over which of the two clubs his three sons would land at under the Father-Son rule.

Fortunately, they each chose Collingwood, ensuring the family’s legacy would continue well into the 21st Century.

Travis Cloke
Height: 196cm
Weight: 108kg
Recruited From: Park Orchards/Eastern U18
Draft History: Selection No. 39 (Father-Son Selection) in the 2004 National Draft
Games: 199
Goals: 353
Debut: Essendon v Collingwood, Round 5 2005
Honours: Collingwood Premiership Side 2010; Collingwood Pre-Season Premiership Side 2011; All Australian 2011, 2013; AFL Rising Star Nomination 2005 (Round 10 v Hawthorn); Copeland Trophy (best-and-fairest) 2007; J.J. Joyce Trophy (3rd-best-and-fairest) 2011, 2013; Bob Rose Award (Best Finals Player) 2007; Gordon Coventry Trophy (Leading Goal Kicker) 2011, 2012
Brownlow Votes: 39