Peter Cloke
TB - Thanks for your time Peter, what are you doing with yourself these days?
PC - Together with my wife Yvonne and son Michael we own and operate the Riesling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages, eight bed and breakfast cottages nestled in the heart of the Clare Valley.
TB - Where did you grow up and play your junior footy?
PC - I grew up in the suburb of Oakleigh in Melbourne where my mother still lives. I played all my junior football for Oakleigh before going to play at Richmond.
TB - You played twenty eight games for Richmond from 1970 - 1973, were you zoned to them or did you always have an ambition to play for the Tigers?
PC - As a young boy I barracked for Melbourne, however I was zoned to the Richmond Football Club and subsequently played for them from 1970 to 1973.
TB - Do you remember your first league game for Richmond?
PC - My first game for Richmond was as an eighteen year old, I played at full forward against North Melbourne and stood David Dench. I kicked two early goals, however I found him a difficult opponent. I do remember that we lost a game we should have won!
TB - Your former coach Tom Hafey was quoted on ABC radio a few seasons ago as saying "Peter Cloke was the best mark of a football out of all the players I ever coached". That is a huge compliment to you as he coached some brilliant aerialists including Royce Hart and Peter Moore to name a couple.
PC - Marking was my strength and Royce Hart and I had many high marking contests. I feel very privileged to be given that compliment by Tom Hafey given the calibre of players he has coached over the years.
TB - You left Richmond in 1974 to play for Oakleigh in the VFA which was brother David's first year at the Tigers, it must have been disappointing not to play league footy together especially as it turned out that Richmond won the flag for the second year in a row.
PC - As a headstrong twenty one year old I requested a clearance to leave Richmond. I was disappointed to leave at such an early age, however I was fortunate to play in the VFA for Oakleigh for two years although we were runners up in both years. In hindsight the decision to leave Richmond was the right decision as it opened doors for me and gave me other opportunities both professionally and personally.
TB - In 1975 you crossed the border to play for North Adelaide, how did that come about?
PC - I played a very good finals series in 1974 with Oakleigh, they were the days when finals attracted thirty to forty thousand supporters. In that year I was approached by many VFL, interstate and country clubs, however an approach by the NAFC coach Mike Patterson (an ex Richmond player) clinched the deal. I was keen to go interstate to explore opportunities it may present. It was the next best league and I was able to undertake further study and subsequent employment opportunities.
TB - As it turned out you won North Adelaide's Best and Fairest award in your first year and the club played in the finals. You must have been happy with the move?
PC - Yes, the move to North Adelaide was extremely rewarding both professionally as a footballer winning the Best and Fairest and also on a personal level. North Adelaide was a wonderful club to be involved with and they embraced and nurtured young players. Barrie and Taimi Robran were very supportive of me and I was a permanent fixture at their dinner table every Friday night. Supporters and players shared a wonderful bond which has resulted in life long friendships. The move to North Adelaide was definitely the right one and I have many fond memories of my time there.
TB - Did you transfer over with your previous job in Melbourne or did North find new employment for you?
PC - I was trained as a secondary school teacher in Victoria gaining a degree in Science at Monash University. When I moved to South Australia I did part time teaching at Thorndon High School and attended Flinders University where I gained a degree in Physical Education.
TB - Did you find the standard in the SANFL much different to the VFL?
PC - I did struggle in my early days at North Adelaide. I am sure North was ready to send me back over the border in the early days. I remember a very lonely ride home on the train from Port Pirie following a trial game where the new "boom" recruit got two kicks and even they were grubbers!
TB - Who do you rate as some of your toughest opponents?
PC - Three particularly tough opponents in no particular order were Rick Davies, Ross Dillon and Graham Cornes.
TB - You played under three coaches at North in Mike Patterson, Barrie Robran and Mike Nunan in your last year. I imagine they would all have been fairly different in relation to their coaching methods?
PC - I played under Patto for three years and Barrie for three years. Barrie used many of Patto's coaching styles and methods as would be expected given how long Barrie played under Patto! I played one year under Mike Nunan whose training was very much skill focussed.
TB - It is one of footballs great tragedies that Barrie Robran was struck down in his prime with such an horrific knee injury in 1974. Still it must have been a thrill for you to play a few games with South Australia's greatest footballer?
PC - Unfortunately I never played with Barrie before his injury but it was and still is a great privilege to be associated with him.
TB - The Cloke family has a great football heritage with you, brother David and nephews Jason, Cameron and Travis all playing at the highest level. Were your Mum and Dad or any of your Grandparents good at sport?
PC - My father played for Dandenong in the VFA in Victoria so we must have inherited some of his ability. He was always very supportive of my football and when I was living in Victoria he rarely missed a game.
TB - 1979 was a stellar year for you winning North's Best and Fairest and finishing runner up to John Duckworth for the Magarey Medal (don't get me started on that !). Do you rate that as your best ever year football wise?
PC - 1979 was a good year for me. Winning North's Best and Fairest for the second time and finishing runner up for the Magarey Medal brought mixed emotions. Personally I consider my first year at North Adelaide (1975) as my best year in football. I came fifth in the Magarey Medal that year but I was probably not as well known by the field umpires then and did not attract the votes.
TB - Do you still keep in touch with any of your old team mates?
PC - I keep in regular contact with Rodney Robran and we always catch up with him and his wife Deb when they come to Adelaide. Having lived and worked in the country since leaving North Adelaide has made it difficult to catch up with many old mates. When I get the opportunity to get to Prospect Oval to see a game I enjoy touching base with all the old faces.
TB - You played mainly at Centre Half Back and Centre Half Forward, what was your preferred position?
PC - My preferred position was Centre Half Back. Kicking for goal was not my best attribute; I would always be on the look out for the handball!
TB - Every club has its share of characters, do any come to mind during your time at North?
PC - Greg Schlein and John Baruzzi were a couple of characters of the club, they were always up to something!
TB - I believe that both you and ex North Adelaide and Fitzroy star Bill Lokan are coaching the South Clare Football Club in 2008. How are you enjoying coaching?
PC - I am supporting Bill as his assistant at South Clare Football Club. I have enjoyed working with him for the past two years.
TB - I see your son Michael plays footy for South Clare. Is he a sticky fingered key position player like his old man?
PC - Our son Michael plays for South Clare having played previously for the Hahndorf and Bordertown Football clubs. His key position is Centre Half Back and he plays a game similar to me. He is an excellent overhead mark and like me is always looking for the quick hand ball.
TB - Do you still follow the fortunes of the Mighty Roosters and get to the odd match or two?
PC - Yes, I still closely follow the NAFC although living in the country has meant that I have not been able to get to many games.
TB - Did you play anywhere after you retired from North Adelaide?
PC - After leaving North Adelaide I was captain coach of the Bordertown Football Club for four years and then continued on as a player for several years. In my last year of playing football at thirty nine years of age we won the premiership so I went out on a high!
TB - Football has changed a lot over the years, do you enjoy the way AFL is played these days?
PC - I really enjoy watching a "good" game of football however the continual "pack" situations, heavy "gang style" tackling and "possession" football I do not believe are features of our game.
TB - You seem permanently settled in South Australia, do you see yourself living the rest of your life here?
PC - In 1997 I left Bordertown and moved to Roxby Downs with my wife Yvonne where we successfully owned and managed the Roxby Downs Newsagency Toy Kingdom store. In 2006 we moved to Clare and now own and manage the Reisling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages. I have made some wonderful and lifetime friends along the way in South Australia. I am a South Aussie for life!
TB - Thanks again Peter, it has been a buzz catching up with another North Adelaide legend!