ONE OF Tom Rockliff’s fondest memories is having his family amongst a packed house at the MCG for his AFL debut back in 2009.
On that occasion the then 19-year-old was part of a Brisbane side which started strongly before being overcome by Collingwood.
The now 30-year-old is expecting it to be very different this week when he lines up for game number 200 - this time representing Port Adelaide.
For starters, Rockliff is hoping for a win. He will also have to do it with only 10,000 people in the crowd, and without his family at the game because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Well, that is not entirely true; his cousin Harry Morrison will be there, lining up against him in a Hawthorn jumper.
“It’s interesting… he’ll be the only family member I have at the ground, going up against him in my 200th game is a bit of a unique situation,” Rockliff told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“That’ll be special to have him there, we grew up together.
“He’s a bit younger than me but it’s probably worked out well that we play Hawthorn in my 200th game.”
Game 200 seemed a distant dream back in 2008 when Rockliff was the leading goal kicker in the TAC Cup with 59 goals and was named the best and fairest for the Murray Bushrangers, yet was overlooked at the national draft.
He overcame the disappointment when he was drafted by the Lions in the 2009 pre-season draft, and became such an important part of the side that he captained the club in 2015 and 2016.
The ball magnet midfielder from Benalla in country Victoria described his AFL journey as “incredible”, admitting he was driven by being overlooked in the draft initially.
“I always wanted to play, there was no doubt about that so, the driving factor, I knew I had flaws in my game and had to work on them – running capabilities and so on,” Rockliff said.
“So, when I got my first game, it’s something I’ll always cherish, playing at a packed house at the MCG against Collingwood was huge and to have all your family there made it a really special occasion.
“Once you get in and you get a thirst for it, you don’t want to go out of the team so I found a way to get to 200 games and there’s no doubt for me now that the biggest focus is team success and to make sure we have that as a footy club and as a player as well.”
Rockliff won two best and fairest awards at Brisbane and was an All-Australian in 2014, but his time in the sunshine state came to an end following the 2017 season.
He joined Port as a restricted free agent, but said he cherished the memories he had of his time with the Lions.
“Probably when I finish, I’ll sit down and reflect more but there’s no doubt it was a special time in my life – I spent nine years there,” he said.
“I was fortunate enough to captain the club, didn’t exactly have the on field success and finish the way we would have liked in my time there but I have very fond memories of the Brisbane Lions footy club and I’m very appreciative of the opportunities I got when I was up there and I suppose that’s a chapter of my life that’s almost behind me now but is still very much a part of my footy career and who I am today.”
At Port Adelaide he has maintained his reputation of winning plenty of the ball, and plenty of tackles.
But shoulder injuries have hampered his form somewhat. He arrived at the club having undergone a shoulder reconstruction and has had two further operations since.
Now at full fitness, Rockliff is eager to make the most of the opportunity presented to his side in 2020, with Port sitting top of the ladder heading into the business end of the season.
“We’ve set ourselves up to really threaten in seasons gone by but for some reason or not we haven’t been able to push on and have the success that we would have liked and unfortunately for me I’ve had a couple of shoulder operations in my time down here,” he explained.
“Coming down here with a reconstruction originally and then another couple in the off seasons after that so it’s been far from ideal in that aspect but I’ve loved my time at Port Adelaide.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the footy club and the people within the four walls, but also the fans and spectators and members as well.
“There’s no better experience I don’t think than running out on Adelaide Oval in front of a packed house, which unfortunately we haven’t been able to do this year, but hearing them roar and then having a really good win, even when the games is on the line or in Showdowns and stuff like that, they definitely lift you up and I’ve loved every minute of my time with Port Adelaide to date, and hopefully there’s still a few good years left.”
And while he is hoping to hang around for another few seasons, Rockliff’s first job is to help his side overcome Hawthorn in an important encounter at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks have only won one of their last eight games, but Rockliff was expecting a testing encounter in the twilight clash.
“They’re obviously a high-class outfit and they have been for a number of years now,” he said.
“Alastair Clarkson will no doubt have them up and about so it will be a really good contest, I think.
“We’ve always had good battles with Hawthorn in the past and (no doubt it’ll be) another one this weekend.”
