Richmond's Jake King dobbed in by Collingwood's Travis Cloke * Mark Stevens
* From: Herald Sun
* March 10, 2010 TENSIONS between Richmond and Collingwood are close to boiling point amid "dobbing" and biting allegations.
Magpie forward Travis Cloke broke the "code of silence" by twice lagging on rugged Richmond defender Jake King.
In an explosive aftermath to Friday's practice match at Visy Park, it also emerged yesterday that Tigers recruit Dylan Grimes received a rude introduction to league football.
The teenager was allegedly bitten on the back by an unknown Collingwood opponent.
King is facing a two-match ban after Cloke's damning evidence and will today decide if he fights to clear his name at the tribunal.
Cloke approached an umpire during Friday's match and protested that King had struck him to the face.
It is understood the umpire heard a noise behind play, sensing an incident had happened, but did not see it.
Once the complaint was made, the umpire was obliged to fire off a notice of investigation.
Cloke was interviewed again over the weekend and refused to back down on the allegations.
A source last night said of Cloke: "He sang like a bird."
As there was no video footage of the incident, Cloke's evidence was the key factor in King being offered two weeks by the match review panel.
Players have a history of backing down once confronted by an investigator, but Cloke did not hold back when given a second chance to tell his story.
Historically players help opponents in investigations, coming down with a sudden case of amnesia, but it is understood they have been warned that any complaints on match day must be backed up when questions are asked later.
King has a history with Collingwood, copping two matches in Round 20 last season after an altercation with Magpie Alan Didak.
Cloke was also at the centre of controversy in that game.
Tiger Luke McGuane claimed he was bitten by Cloke in that game, but did not go through with the allegations.
If King decides to roll the dice at the tribunal and loses, he will be suspended for three matches.
Given he is in the final year of a contract and fighting for his career, it would be a savage blow to miss the early rounds of the season.
THE bad blood between Richmond and Collingwood all started on a "hot" August afternoon at the MCG last year.
- with Michael Warner
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmonds-jake-king-dobbed-in-by-collingwoods-travis-cloke/story-e6frf9jf-1225838900287
