PORT ADELAIDE ball magnet Tom Rockliff spoke to the media from the Power's pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast on Monday afternoon.
Here are the key takeaways:
Rockliff on the camp to date:
“It’s been good - the boys have been training really well.
“We have had a few different sessions along the way. We went paintballing and stuff yesterday. The bonding side of it has been really good.
“You don’t get opportunities like this back home, particularly in Adelaide when you finish training and go home and see your family.
“To spend time away as a group is really important for us, and to get to know the young guys as well, and to see their personalities start to come out is good.
Rockliff on how it compares to last year’s camp:
“It’s very similar.
“We’ve probably done a few different activities this year, but I think the overall work we’ve done is probably 5-10 per cent on top of that.
“The running sessions and training sessions have been quite gruelling and taxing.
“We have two days to go, it’s going to be another big session this afternoon after the boys did a really hard session this morning.
“We will need to back it up again tomorrow, so it will be a really good way to finish the camp.
Rockliff on how impressed he has been with the Sunshine Coast:
“It’s been another outstanding camp.
“The locals have really looked after us - the Sunshine Coast people really embrace AFL football when it comes up here. I think they get a kick out of it as much as we do.
“Everything has been faultless so far for us - the accommodation and the gym.
“They have welcomed us with open arms, which is a really nice thing.
Rockliff on team bonding:
“It’s a big thing in footy clubs, but particularly this one.
“We have gone down that track of opening up and being vulnerable. I think we’ve seen that over the past 12 months.
“There was a huge shift in focus for us - Vossy (Michael Voss) instigated that last year and we have continued to grow that this pre-season camp, and we will continue to grow that throughout the year.
“To hear some of the boys’ stories and have guest speakers in, you get know each other on a deeper level.
“The good thing is people have opened up and told stories and a lot of the guys can probably relate to something that someone else is saying.
“It builds an instant connection. It’s a really positive thing and something we will continue to grow.
Rockliff on the recovery from his shoulder operation:
“I’ve done pretty much all of the training throughout the summer.
“I’d like to do a little bit more midfield work, to work with Jarrad Schofield, but I will be out of the pink hat just after Christmas.
“Obviously, another shoulder operation and the pink hat means pretty much no contact.
“I’ve completed all sessions up to Christmas and I feel really good, so once the hat comes off, I think I’ve set a really good foundation to have a big post-Christmas period, then hopefully a really big season.
