Players have been given greater freedom this season to push and grapple when attempting to mark the ball, a move that was expected to help power forwards such as Cloke.  But  he believes it favours defenders. He said power forwards were sometimes harshly judged and has questioned whether there are even interpretation changes throughout a weekend.

‘‘Consistency – that is all you want to ask from the umpires,’’ Cloke said on Monday. ‘‘You don’t mind which way they call it or if they call ’em or not call ’em, it’s just be consistent through a game. Or even within the weekend.

‘‘Normally, you can watch a Friday night game and see how they are going to be called for the weekend. If they are varying from a Friday night game to a Sunday game – obviously the umpires are different – but it’s a bit disappointing to see them changing so much.’’

Cloke had a rugged battle with Adelaide’s Daniel Talia on Sunday, finishing with three goals and seven marks. He was particularly dangerous when pushed deep in the forward line in the final term.

Cloke suggested such was the illegal holding and grappling going on with Talia that it appeared either could lose their guernsey.

‘‘There was a little bit of, I guess, ‘sailing’ – someone’s jumper is going to go for a nice sail out in the wind,’’ he said.

‘‘You get used to it after a while. Obviously, the new rules come in, you are allowed to engage, I guess push and shove a lot more now ...  But I still think it favours the defenders. They get away with a bit more. But, I guess, that’s footy and the interpretation of the umpire on the way they see it.’’

Cloke suggested some defenders were operating outside the rules and not being punished.

‘‘Your job [as a defender] is to do whatever you can within the rules – or not even within the rules sometimes – whatever the umpires allow you to get away with,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s what their job is. They are doing the right thing if they can stop you from taking a mark by any means necessary, good luck to ’em [if they] get away with it.’’

AFL umpires boss Wayne Campbell dismissed Cloke’s claims, insisting all umpires were given the same coaching and feedback. ‘‘The general feedback has been [that] our marking contests’ adjudication has been pretty good, so we’re happy with the way it’s been.’’

Cloke has also called on the Magpies’ on-field leaders to take a stronger stance as they deal with their fifth loss in six games, after  a 16-point loss to the Crows. The Magpies will probably need to win four of their remaining five matches to feature in September.

That process begins against fifth-placed Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday, with Cloke insisting  Collingwood has the talent to make the finals. ‘‘I still think we are going to have a crack at finals this year. Don’t worry about that. Don’t wipe us off,’’ he said.

‘‘Obviously, onwards and upwards is a bit of a cliche – we are ready to play finals. We have a great list, a young list, yes, but we have some great experience with that mid 22-to-26 [age group] and that is the group that is going to drive us.’’

Cloke defended coach Nathan Buckley, who  will come under siege should the Magpies not make the finals.