ENTERING a 14-day period of self-isolation can be a daunting prospect, especially for an AFL footballer who is accustomed to an active lifestyle outdoors.
However, Port Adelaide midfielder Tom Rockliff, who was part of the travelling group that entered isolation after returning from the Power’s round 1 win over the Gold Coast, has helped put a smile on the faces of those in lockdown with a series of video diaries that have gone viral over the past fortnight.
Day ?? of self-isolation with @rockwiz38 ?????? #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/dBFSfRH1FN
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) April 1, 2020
“I spoke to our media manager at the club and he asked me to do a daily video diary of what it was like in isolation,” Rockliff told Melbourne radio.
“The first couple were me just talking to the screen and we thought ‘well this isn’t going to last for two weeks, is it?’.”
The Power ball magnet soon began to reveal his creative side, recording skits with a variety of clever themes ranging from James Bond, Rocky, the Tour de France and even a cheeky nod to the AFL Fantasy players out there from ‘The Pig’.'
Day 1?? 1?? of self-isolation - putting the Rocky in @rockwiz38 ???? #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/vqhgdc6Mqk
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) April 2, 2020
Rockliff also enjoyed the time to bond with young son Jack, who often stole the show from his star footballer father.
“We found a few things online and the ideas spawned from there for us. Jack was the star, I was just his sidekick in the end,” Rockliff said.
“It was a good bit of fun and something that he really enjoyed.
“He’d keeping asking me ‘Dad, movie? Movie?’, so we both got a kick out of it which was really good.”
Day 1??3?? of self-isolation with @rockwiz38 - rest easy @AFLFantasy fans, footy might be on hiatus but the ?? isn't going anywhere! #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/GmLuRoZhZG
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) April 4, 2020
The 30-year-old admitted it took some adjusting to get used to his new life bound within the four walls of his house and restricted in terms of what he could do to maintain his fitness levels.
“People close to me know I am quite a bubbly person, I’m bouncing off the walls most of the time. So to not be able to leave the house for two weeks was tough at times,” Rockliff said.
“You go through different phases throughout the 14 days where you feel not too bad and then you’re like ‘what am I going to do, what am I getting out of bed for?’.
“The first week we didn’t have much to train with either because we got off the plane (from the Gold Coast) and went straight into isolation.
“We live in a townhouse so we don’t have a big yard or anything like that – I could do push ups and sit-ups and that was about it.”
Day 1??4?? of self-isolation with @rockwiz38 - they say all good things must come to an end ?? #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/1LPDH4Sht6
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) April 5, 2020
However, the prolific on-baller remained philosophical about his circumstances knowing he was just playing his role in helping to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak and is enjoying a greater level of freedom now his isolation period has ended.
“There’s no doubt it was challenging, but that is the way the world is at the moment,” Rockliff said.
“We are out of isolation now, but you can only leave the house if you really have to.
“I’ll take the dogs for a walk, get Jack out of the house for half an hour or so in the morning and then do some training.
“You’ve just got to look for ways to entertain yourself and stop yourself from going insane.”