Much has been made of Cloke's poor start to the 2014 season with the forward admitting on Wednesday, ahead of game 200, that "half the time the battle was within his head".
Cloke has taken the most contested marks in the competition over the past five seasons, but has just taken two contested grabs and kicked just two goals across the opening three rounds.
Elliott said Cloke needed more support from the forwards, and better supply from the midfield.
"We've just got to engage our defenders," he said on Thursday morning.
"If we let defenders drop off and then go to Trav and then he's competing two or three on one, he's not going to take any marks so we've got to help him out and he has to help us out as well.
"It works both ways; the delivery [to Cloke] has been bad. I'm guessing on his behalf that he hasn't competed as well as he could have.
"It works both ways if we can deliver the footy to him without a two-on-one then he should get more shots on goal."
Cloke was an early starter at training on Thursday morning at the Westpac Centre, with the forward practicing his goalkicking before the rest of his teammates arrived.
He took shots from all around the 50m arc, rarely missing.
Elliott kicked five goals in the Pies loss to Geelong last Saturday night and is likely to be closely checked by Richmond defender Steven Morris in Friday night's crucial clash at the MCG.
"Against Richmond I'm expecting Morris," Elliot said.
"I suppose the attention will be about the same I think but hopefully we can draw some attention away for Trav and he can kick some goals."
Neither Collingwood nor Richmond have had the desired start to the season they were hoping for with both sides 1-2.
Friday night looms as a huge clash for both sides in the context of the season with the loser facing a daunting task to secure a top-four finish.
But Elliott admitted the game against the Tigers was a significant one.
"I'm guessing on Richmond's behalf they'd be disappointed just as much as us," he said.
"You always look for a perfect start [to the season], you want to win every game. It hasn't been the way for us and for them, that's why this game is going to be big. We're both even at the moment and we're looking forward to it as I'm sure they are.
"It's going to be a big game and I'm just thinking about getting a win on the board and I'm sure my teammates are as well."
