Collingwood forward Travis Cloke has taken a "step in the right direction" in his return to senior football, with an encouraging performance in the Pies’ win over Fremantle.
The out-of-favour Magpie returned to the senior side on Friday night after spending the round before last weekend's bye in the VFL.
It was the second time Cloke had been dropped from the team after struggling to find form, sparking calls from some commentators that his career at Collingwood was nearing an end.
But the 29-year-old repaid Nathan Buckley's faith in him, in what the coach described as a promising two-goal performance.
"He played his role," Buckley said after the Pies' 48-point win at the MCG on Friday night.
"I thought for the large part in the last quarter, Clokey and Jesse [White] were two that found a little bit extra…to stabilise the game.
"It was encouraging for [Cloke] and a step in the right direction."
Cloke flew out of the blocks, kicking the first goal of the match in the opening 90 seconds, and prompting his teammates to flock from everywhere to celebrate with him.
"We didn't want to expose Clokey without that support, or Jesse, for that matter. It was a line-ball call.
"Ultimately, when you get the result, it's the right decision, but when you look at it a bit deeper Mason played his role pretty well and set up a lot of ground ball for our small forwards."
Young Collingwood forward Darcy Moore is expected to be available for selection for next week's game against Carlton after recovering from a broken collarbone, which could very well create a selection headache for Buckley.
The Magpies are also hopeful midfielder Taylor Adams, forward Alex Fasolo and Tim Broomhead will return from injury over the next fortnight.
He presented well up the ground and finished the game with seven marks, 13 disposals and four inside 50s.
His most encouraging sign came in the final term when he slotted a set-shot goal from hard up against the boundary line.
Cloke was well assisted up forward by fellow talls Mason Cox and Jesse White, both who kicked two goals each.
Buckley praised the work of his tall forwards, but revealed after the match that the club had been close to making a late change with wet conditions forecast at the MCG.
Fortunately, the rain stayed away until the final quarter, justifying Buckley's decision to keep Cox in the selected side.
"It went right to the wire," Buckley admitted.
"We were really keen to play Mason. We thought that even if it was a little slippery, against a really good defensive side in Fremantle, you were going to have to play down the line a little bit to talls.
