While the Magpies pair has struggled for form in recent weeks, Gibson isn’t buying into the notion that they can be easily stopped.
Dawes was dropped from the Magpies side that took on the Bombers in Round 23, while Cloke seemingly found his mojo - gathering 20 disposals, 16 marks and booting 5.4 on Saturday night.
Gibson says he never doubted Cloke’s ability to return to form, and looks forward to taking on the Magpies’ forwards at the MCG.
“He had a super game on the weekend and we all know the best players in the game don’t stay down for long,” he told hawthornfc.com.au.
“I was always confident that he would come back and hit some form.
“That’ll be a great challenge for the backline to look after him this week.”
The 189cm defender expects the Magpies to recall Dawes for Friday night’s Qualifying Final, but he won’t be caught up in his form lapse.
“People go through patches where you’re not playing your best footy, but his work rate and work ethic is second to none,” Gibson said of Dawes.
“When I’ve played on him, I’ve been tired after the game.
“I know he didn’t play on the weekend, but I’m guessing they’ll probably be bringing him back in and I’ll be treating him the same way as I ever would.
“There won’t be any different mindset to the way I’ve played on him or Cloke or any of them in the past.”
After lining up on Cloke twice this season, Ryan Schoenmakers is likely to again be given the job by Coach, Alastair Clarkson.
Schoenmakers had the better of Cloke in the last match-up between the two sides, in Round 17.
Cloke was limited to just two marks and one goal as Schoenmakers enhanced his defensive reputation.
Gibson says the development of his defensive partner has been “fantastic”.
“People forget how young he is, and when you’ve got to play on the big key forwards, it’s a big job,” he said.
“He’s been fantastic.
“He’s really taken his game to another level and developed a lot this year.”
The threat the Magpies pose up forward, however, doesn’t simply lie with Cloke and Dawes - with Andrew Krakouer and Alan Didak returning to strengthen its forward half.
Gibson says their forward “mix” makes the Collingwood forward line a dangerous one.
“They’ve got such a good mix, they’ve got good talls and also some smaller player who are quite mercurial around goals,” he said.
“Then you throw in the mid-sized guys like (Alex) Fasolo that can really play tall and take a good mark.
“They’ve got a dangerous forward line and you’ve got to respect them all.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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