For a new face at a new club, it couldn’t have gone any better.

Three minutes into the first term of the Western Bulldogs' opening JLT Community Series clash with Melbourne, a Jason Johannsien inside-50 entry headed in the Travis Cloke direction.

If the site of 246-game former Magpie in Bulldogs colours took some getting used to, the man himself looked very comfortable as he out-bodied his opponent, marked and goaled with his first kick.

“It would have taken the edge of it a little bit, coach Luke Beveridge said after the Dogs’ six-point defeat to Melbourne.

“And all the boys got up and gave him a pat on the back so that was nice.” 

Cloke’s second major came midway through the second term – a perfectly weighted kick from outside-50, directly in front of the EJ Whitten Stand.

The kick went right before swinging back left and sailing through the middle – in the notorious swirl of VU Whitten Oval, it was an exceptional strike. 

The 29-year-old finished with 12 disposals (at 83%), eight marks, including three contested, and four inside-50s to go along with his two goals; Beveridge pleased with the big forward’s output in his first game.

“[There were] some really good signs today, he said.

“He’s trained hard and we hope to find his best qualities in performances over the course of this year.”

The Bulldogs next match is against Brisbane on Thursday, March 2 at Etihad Stadium.