Essendon VFLW coach Travis Cloke joined the State of Play: VFL/W Podcast this week in a wide-ranging chat that covered everything from the Bombers' form reversal, his journey into coaching and his preferred choice of hat on match days.

Cloke’s side take on rebel VFLW ladder-leader Geelong on Saturday in a highly-anticipated clash at the NEC Hangar.

Ahead of the clash, he chatted to Joe Pignataro and Lucy Watkin on the podcast, opening up on a range of topics:

Regaining passion for football
“If we go back to 2017 when I retired, I had no intention of working in football again. I really was burnt out and had enough of the process, the game, the media, the scrutiny….Luke Power dragged me back into footy in the National Academy. He took me over to New Zealand to work with the elite talent program and that really sparked the love of footy for me again.”

Coaching women’s football
“I think it suits my mannerism. I’m a bit more cool, calm and collected that way. I’m not an aggressive person and I don’t lose my head and scream, so it probably suits in that way. In my role here at the Essendon Football Club I get to see both. I do work in the men’s so I can be a bit more assertive and finetune my craft in the men’s. When I come back to the women’s space I can be more educational and a bit more direct in the way we go through the process and the fundamentals.”

On wearing the Akubra
“I started wearing it a couple of years ago. In the girls space in the NAB League when I was coaching we had games in January and February and it was so hot. I remember burning my forehead. I had that hat in my car so I whacked it and the girls at the Eastern Ranges loved it and said you have to keep doing it.”

The importance of Sir Doug Nicholls Round to his team
“This weekend we play Geelong here at The Hangar obviously its Dreamtime and Sir Douglas Nicholls Round. We have two Indigenous leaders so want to make sure we acknowledge that. I’ve got two Indigenous coaches on my coaching panel in Kirby Bentley and Jacara Egan. For me, it’s really important we acknowledge that and acknowledge their journey.”

The challenge of facing ladder-leader Geelong
Geelong are definitely the side to beat this year. They play a really nice brand of footy. They move the ball well and are a highly-skilled team. We’ve got to look at them and challenging them in a few areas and they will do the same to us.”

Listen to the full episode below and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:00- Weekend champions

6:25 - Travis Cloke discusses Essendon's hot form following five-consecutive wins which have propelled the reigning premiers into third place on the rebel VFLW ladder ahead of a clash with ladder-leader Geelong this weekend. Cloke also details his path into coaching following his retirement from playing in 2017.

17:10 - Barry O'Connor chats about the GWS Giants' epic final-term comeback win over Collingwood in Round 8 of the Smithy's VFL. The Irishman also discusses his journey to playing Australian Rules football after making the switch from Gaelic football. 

19:55 - Round 8 predictions