http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions-coach-justin-leppitschs-first-job-was-to-talk-tom-rockliff-out-of-taking-melbourne-trade-offer/story-fni5f5nx-1226946151477

Looks as though we offered pick 2 for Rockliff (don't recall that potential trade being mentioned at the time - could be wrong though!). If they had accepted it, we wouldn't have got Tyson. I'd imagine the Lions' first round pick would've been part of the package.

So, should we be thankful that Leppa stopped the deal? I probably don't know enough about Rockliff, but I know Dom's a bloody beauty and I'm glad the MFC is his home and not somewhere else!

Was def mentioned in trade period... Tyson is a star, my boy and I am so happy we got him instead.

But in all seriousness Rockliff is also a young star, think we would have been happy regardless.

Rockliff is a brilliant player

but not as brilliant as Tyson + Salem

Brisbane needed Rockliff to stay loyal. With all the new players coming and going in the past few years, he was one that needed to sign on and show to the playing group that he is Brisbane for life and committed. I don't know the Brisbane camp personally, but from the way he goes about it on the field and by reports, Rockliff is a leader. The last thing that the club needed was for one of their leaders to be traded away after showing loyalty, what does that say to the rest of the playing group? He was going no where.

Rockliff is a jet, I think Tyson is possibly as good now, or not far off but I really didn't expect him to walk in and average 30 touches and 2 goals a game from the word go

Pick two for Rockliff would have not been a good call, it would have needed another early pick from Brissy.

We got the deal of a lifetime with Tyson and Salem.

'Hood' posted some really interesting info on this recently talking about the meeting between Rockliff, Roos and Jackson.

Can you cut and paste it

Can you cut and paste it

Copy from 'Hoods' post on Roos successor.

I had a family get together this week. The in laws come from up Shepp way and found myself talking footy with Tom Rotcliff's uncle. It seems MFC threw every thing they had at Tom at the end of last season. He talked about Tom meeting Roos and PJ at the Gee and Tom being blown away by Roos knowledge of football in general but was astounded by Roosey's knowledge of the Lions game plan and that he kept asking why they failed to follow their own plan. It seems Vossey under pressure would ditch his own game plan and the assistant coaches didn't like it one bit. And it seems Roosey had a fair idea that was the problem. Tommy agreed. The uncle said if Voss had been retained as coach Tommy would have come to Melbourne. But in the end they doubled his contract offer after five young kids left o he took up the offer. With out that he might be a Demon.

The other MFC issue he brought up was Chris Connolly who played for Shepparton United. He said they brought him up especially one night to look at A young Micheal Barlow at training when he was still playing for SHepp United at 19 and had won the B&F for the comp. apparently Connelly had a look,and said there was nothing there to work with. And moved on to pick the young kids in the National Draft, who we know went not so well. Of course Barlow was over looked by many and went pick 80 to Freemantle but then played phenomenol footy in his first year before he was injured.

But if only we took some of our inside knowledge and used that for picks.

Onviously it has turned out well with tyson and salem, however had we have landed rockliff last trade period I doubt anyone would have see the problem with it. That said, jeez its good to get excited to go to the footy again knowing you will see tysons 60m goals and salems sublime skills!

Edited June 6, 201411 yr by Generation dee

Thanks interesting

Hope recruiters find another Barlow this year

Pick two for Rockliff would have not been a good call, it would have needed another early pick from Brissy.

We got the deal of a lifetime with Tyson and Salem.

There is no way Brisbane would be giving us another pick back.

Rockliff for pick 2 would have been a massive win for us.

I am happy the way it turned out. Tyson has been amazing so far and Salem looks the goods.

Having Rockliff is a nice dream and probably equal with Tyson, but the difference is I doubt Brisbane would have coughed up their first rounder as part of the package. It's not just Tyson, but the receipt of Salem that makes this deal look so sweet; we'd most likely have missed out on that if we'd dealt with Brisbane.

At this point pick 2 for Tyson would have been a win for us. Let alone adding Salem.

Having Rockliff is a nice dream and probably equal with Tyson, but the difference is I doubt Brisbane would have coughed up their first rounder as part of the package. It's not just Tyson, but the receipt of Salem that makes this deal look so sweet; we'd most likely have missed out on that if we'd dealt with Brisbane.

One of the misconceptions is we got Salem for "free". We didn't as we traded pick 20 and 2 for Tyson and Salem (9).

It's still a huge win for us IMO and I thought so at the time. The upgrade from 20 to 9 is very significant but none the less we did "pay" for Salem.

Rockliff is an absolute jet. For as good as Tyson is/may become, he has a way to go to top Rockliff. I don't think he'll ever get there, to be completely honest. I agree with UTAH, there's no way that we'd have got a pick back, but pick 2 for Rockliff would still have been a steal.

The argument is whether Tyson + Salem > Rockliff. On the current evidence it's line ball.

Of course, the worst part is that he should've been on our list from the start. He was training with us at the end of 09 after being overlooked in the national draft. We had the option of taking him with the preseason draft pick we used on Jurrah, but instead elected to try and rookie him. Brisbane swooped - and the rest, as they say, is history.

Rockliff is a brilliant player

but not as brilliant as Tyson + Salem

we needed the likes of Tyson & Vince more than another hard insider, IMO. creative ball users & carriers. Tyson & Salem is a laydown misere`

Copy from 'Hoods' post on Roos successor.

The other MFC issue he brought up was Chris Connolly who played for Shepparton United. He said they brought him up especially one night to look at A young Micheal Barlow at training when he was still playing for SHepp United at 19 and had won the B&F for the comp. apparently Connelly had a look,and said there was nothing there to work with. And moved on to pick the young kids in the National Draft, who we know went not so well. Of course Barlow was over looked by many and went pick 80 to Freemantle but then played phenomenol footy in his first year before he was injured.

But if only we took some of our inside knowledge and used that for picks.

Barlow ended up going to Werribee and was picked up in the Rookie Draft of 2010 at pick 8. He's been a wonderful story.

Much gets made of "the players we missed". Lewis Jetta is another often brought up. But timing is everything. We heard about Lewis Jetta from Neville's mother but by the time we heard it was too late to do the due diligence. Recruiting staff spend months checking a raft of players. They speak to the players coach, teachers, team mates and anyone else they can find who knows the kid. They try to see them play on numerous occasions, view draft camp data, interview them and often have psych testing available. IIRC Lewis played in a secondary league and wasn't on anyone's radar. There would have been little if any vision of him playing and by the time we heard of him the season was over so there was no opportunity to see him play. It would have clearly been too much of a risk to take him on the say so of one parent.

Add to that the fact that recruiters get hundred's of "tips".

Recruiting is not easy.

Rockliff is an absolute jet. For as good as Tyson is/may become, he has a way to go to top Rockliff. I don't think he'll ever get there, to be completely honest. I agree with UTAH, there's no way that we'd have got a pick back, but pick 2 for Rockliff would still have been a steal.

The argument is whether Tyson + Salem > Rockliff. On the current evidence it's line ball.

Of course, the worst part is that he should've been on our list from the start. He was training with us at the end of 09 after being overlooked in the national draft. We had the option of taking him with the preseason draft pick we used on Jurrah, but instead elected to try and rookie him. Brisbane swooped - and the rest, as they say, is history.

Its not fashionable to say this because the Jurrah story is incredible but IMO it created a very large number of problems for our club. I'd forgotten about the ROckliff scenario and that just adds to the number.

Pick 2 for Rockliff and spare change would have been an effective bit of recruiting.

Pick 2 for Tyson and Salem may prove to be one of the great modern-era trades for us, and GWS won't be crying about getting Kelly either.

Meanwhile, Rockliff might be available this year. If he is disgruntled by the end of the year, well, we have the salary cap room, that's for sure.

A case of a trade where everyone can win, we would have won with either trade and would have known no different. Brisbane managed to keep their best player, GWS got an upgrade to Pick 2 and get a kid who looks the goods. Finally we get Tyson who just has been better than I expected and Salem who looks polished, great foot skills and has footy smarts and nous.

Trades don't always have to be about winners and losers

It's a win win situation.

Brisbane get to keep their best player and we got Tyson and Salem.

If Tyson hits Rockliff's level i will be ecstatic. But i believe he can go higher.

It's a win win situation.

Brisbane get to keep their best player and we got Tyson and Salem.

If Tyson hits Rockliff's level i will be ecstatic. But i believe he can go higher.

You have to be kidding if you don't think Tyson can go better. 20yo with just over 20 games to his name.

You have to be kidding if you don't think Tyson can go better. 20yo with just over 20 games to his name.

That's exactly why i said he can go higher.

I dont understand why you're arguing with me if we have the same point.

Please re-read what i write before you decide to quote me

That's exactly why i said he can go higher.

I dont understand why you're arguing with me if we have the same point.

Please re-read what i write before you decide to quote me

Totally mis read it, apologies. I thought it was a weird quote.