Introduction After being initially overlooked by AFL recruiters as a junior, Tom Rockliff has proven to be one of the Lions' greatest success stories in recent times. The once clever and creative midfielder/forward has become an elite runner who can accumulate plenty of the ball. The 2011 Club Champion now forms a critical part of the Lions' promising midfield brigade. Background • Hailing from Benalla in country Victoria, Tom Rockliff is a natural footballer who achieved almost everything during his final year as a junior footballer. • He was a standout for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup U18 competition, kicking a competition-high 59 goals as a small forward and averaging 23 disposals per match. • He kicked four or more goals on eight occasions including a season-high eight goals against the Sandringham Dragons in Round 13. • He also helped lead the Bushrangers to their first TAC Cup premiership since 1998 with 30 possessions and four goals in the U18 Grand Final. His super individual performance was overshadowed only by team-mate Steele Sidebottom, whose 10 goal effort from the midfield earned best-on-ground honours. • His consistent season with the Bushrangers culminated in him winning the Club’s Best & Fairest award – the John Byrne Medal – ahead of highly fancied team-mates Jack Ziebell and Sidebottom. • He also represented Victoria Country in the 2008 NAB U18 championships where he ranked second overall for goals and first in score assists. • He was largely considered to feature in the first two rounds of the 2008 National Draft – but was surprisingly overlooked by all 16 AFL clubs at the selection meeting. • With one remaining spot on their senior list, the Lions earmarked the country Victorian and eventually drafted him with their first selection (Pick No.5 overall) in the 2008 Pre-Season Draft in December. 2009 • Rockliff suffered a minor setback early in his first pre-season when he developed shin splints. However, he worked hard to regain a strong fitness base and soon became an integral part of the Lions Reserves side. • He split his on-field duties largely between the midfield and forward line where his uncanny nous around goals and ball-winning ability were features of his game. • Regular 30-plus disposal efforts coupled with a number of multiple goal-scoring performances saw Rockliff eventually selected to make his senior AFL debut against Collingwood at the MCG in what was also Simon Black's 250th match. • The Lions' sixth debutant for the season also locked horns for the first time with former Murray Bushrangers premiership team-mate Steele Sidebottom who was drafted to the Magpies. • Unfortunately Collingwood accounted for the Lions by 40 points on that occasion and Rockliff received only limited game time. He returned to the Lions Reserves the following week.  • His standout performances with the Lions Reserves were recognised at the end of the season when he was the only Lions player selected in the AFLQ Velocity Sports Cup Team of the Year.
2010 • Despite managing just one senior game in 2009, Rockliff emerged this year as a future star for the Lions. • After a gruelling pre-season, Rockliff found himself a consistent member of the Lions’ senior side and undoubtedly one of the team’s most improved players. • He played in 19 matches and averaged 22.8 disposals per game, which put him fourth at the Club. • Arguably Rockliff’s best game of the season was in round 17 against Geelong at Skilled Stadium where he racked up a career-best 32 disposals. • Rockliff’s efforts and form were rewarded when he finished third in the NAB Rising Star awards where he polled 24 votes. • Rockliff was awarded the Rookie of the Year at the Club Champion Awards, and finished 12th overall.
2011 • Fresh from a breakthrough season, Rockliff took his game to a new level in 2011 and capped off a stunning third year with the Lions by becoming the youngest player ever to receive the Merrett-Murray Medal as the Club Champion. • After being elevated into the Lions' Leadership Group at the beginning of the season, he played 20 of a possible 22 matches in 2011 and averaged a Club-high and career-best 27.7 disposals per game. • Such was his consistency, Rockliff collected no fewer than 23 disposals in any game - with the exception of the Round 9 clash against North Melbourne when he was substituted off the ground before half time with a strained calf. The injury also forced him to miss the next two matches. • As well as being a consistent accumulator, Rockliff also worked hard defensively and ranked among the top handful of Lions players in total tackles. In fact, he laid a remarkable 27 tackles over the final two matches of 2011. • He finished the season in outstanding form, with 30-disposal efforts in seven of his final nine matches - including twice collecting a career-best figure of 34 possessions in back-to-back matches against Adelaide and the Gold Coast SUNS.  • His stunning finish to the season proved enough to edge him ahead of team-mates Simon Black and Jack Redden to win the 2011 Merrett-Murray Medal as the Club's Best & Fairest player. • Rockliff and Black also shared the honour of being the top-polling Lions players at the Brownlow Medal count. Rockliff's polled nine votes (the first of his career) including a three-vote performance against Port Adelaide at the Gabba.
Tom Rockliff says the club's future leaders have to step up against the SunsThursday, May 05, 2011 - 10:04AM
Tom Rockliff explains what happened on the Lions' recent trip to Perth.Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 1:04AM
Young midfielder Tom Rockliff shares some of his cooking secrets with Lions fans.Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 4:57PM
Perseverance has paid off for young Brisbane Lion Tom Rockliff, the latest recipient of a nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star awardTuesday, June 29, 2010 - 9:00AM
Tom Rockliff speaks with a couple of Queensland Firebirds.Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 5:56PM
Tom Rockliff is the round 13 nominee for the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star award after his outstanding performance against RichmondTuesday, June 29, 2010 - 12:16PM
Tom Rockliff speaks exclusively to BLTV about the Lions Reserves, what its like to live with James Polkinghorne and the Lions ping pong competition.Thursday, May 14, 2009 - 10:55AM
James Polkinghorne speaks exclusively to BLTV about playing in the senior team, the support of his team mates, what its like to live with Tom Collier and the Lions ping pong competition.Thursday, May 07, 2009 - 5:24PM
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