COLLINGWOOD forward Travis Cloke hopes Saturday night’s split round clash with the Sydney Swans might prove the turning point in a season which, at least from a personal level, he describes as “average to poor”.

Cloke’s form has been down on that of previous seasons and the young Magpie didn’t hold back when assessing his own game in 2009.

While he says he has been working as hard as ever, he admits things just haven’t yet clicked for him this year.

But he hopes the round 12 clash with an opponent he has enjoyed some success against – Cloke has kicked bags of five, three and three goals in his past three games against Paul Roos’ side – will help him return to his best.

“In recent times I’ve kicked a few goals and had a few touches [against the Swans] but I guess that’s old stuff now,” Cloke told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I’m struggling a little bit … but hopefully I can go in reasonably confident knowing that I have done pretty well previously against them.”

This year Cloke is averaging around 13 disposals a match and a goal a game. His cause wasn’t helped by his missing three matches from rounds 8-10 with a hamstring injury.

“So far I’d describe it as pretty average to poor,” he said of his 2009.

“It hasn’t been great. I’ve probably trained as hard as I ever have and had a pretty good pre-season although it was a little bit interrupted, but you have them.

“I’m really just looking forward to this second half of the year now and just focusing on the next 11 rounds plus finals.”

While his numbers are down on previous years, data recorded by the Pies’ fitness staff shows it hasn’t been through lack of effort.

“That’s the weird thing … I wear [GPS tracking devices] regularly and I’m still clocking over the 16, 17km a game as I was a few years ago and last year,” he said.

“It’s probably just those little things [that are missing] that make those games go from poor to good and good to great.”

Cloke might also be a victim of his own high standards. He set the bar high for himself by winning a Copeland Trophy in 2007 at just 20 years of age.

Back then, he had a fit and often firing Anthony Rocca running out alongside him each week. This year Rocca has struggled with injury and has rarely been sighted at senior level.

Cloke says while he doesn’t feel any extra load on his young shoulders – noting the contribution of teammate John Anthony – he admits it is “different” without Rocca.

“Anthony is such a big and strong, dominant player [that] no matter what, he can be playing the best football of his career or even if he’s not doing great … you need to put such a good player on him,” he said.

“It does probably take away the number one defender from me when he does play.”

Still just 22 and continuing to mature, Cloke, who sought out his coaches to discuss his form woes, says he has been buoyed by the support of Mick Malthouse.

“It’s always nice and it gives you confidence to get those messages from your senior coach,” he said.