Tom Rockliff

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

I have no information whatsoever other than I heard the commentators on SEN's drive home programme saying that Rockliff was something of an enigma at Brisbane and they might consider letting him go elsewhere in the quest to play in finals etc. and I'm not sure that we have much to offer the Lions in terms of players and we certainly don't have draft picks ATM but I'm just throwing it out there.

A matter of days before he was picked up by the Lions in the 2009 Pre Season Draft, I was watching him at Melbourne's pre season training where he was an invitee. Regular Demonland poster Redleg was there too and we both thought he would make a good selection either in the PSD or the rookie draft where we had pick 1 in both. History tells us that at the same time, the Demon  recruiters were looking at an exciting indigenous forward - Liam Jurrah - who was starring in the NTFL. They went to Darwin, saw him, liked him and drafted him as #1 in the 2009 PSD. 

We still had a chance to get Tom Rockliff with our first pick in the Rookie Draft. There were only six live picks in the PSD that year and Richmond was always going to take Ben Cousins with pick 6 so Melbourne missed on getting Rockliff by one pick. We took Jordie McKenzie with our Rookie Pick 1 and he turned out a handy player for a while but Rockliff has gone on to bigger and better things - club captaincy at the Lions, two B & F's and an All-Australian.

Still, there's talk of strains in the relationship. Perhaps he might want to come home to Victoria?

As I said, we don't have too many bargaining chips and the Lions might stand firm if he wanted to go but at 26 years of age, he might well fill a bit of a void at the club and give us some additional leadership qualities.

Well, that's my trade outsider for the moment.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

I threw his name up in "who are we chasing thread". Would love to get him but at what cost. Are we prepared to give up our first pick in the 2017 draft and a player?

[mo64 5,883]

For anyone who plays Fantasy Football, Rockliff is a Dreamteam god. And because he's in your team, you tend to take special notice of him. I can't think of a player who racks up as many possessions as he does, and has so little impact. He butchers the ball more than most.

I think it was also reported early in the year that he was after megabucks, so he wouldn't come cheap. I'd stay clear.

[What 18,810]

Another absolute gun that people like to talk down.  Get him.

[John Demonic 5,904]

If the world ends in October 2017, then those who traded their future first round draft pick this year will have come out on top. I'd use it on Rockliff.

We can look for mature leaders elsewhere but as for elite talent, Rockliff fits the bill.

Edited August 29, 2016 by johndemons

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

Heard on the radio  that he is keen on Hawrhorn.

[Little Goffy 14,754]

8 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Another absolute gun that people like to talk down.  Get him.

I'd like to step forward to be counted as one of the people who like to talk him down.

I'd expect in our 2017 midfield he'd be about middle of the range. I'm not interested in KFC at Alinea prices.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

16 minutes ago, mo64 said:

For anyone who plays Fantasy Football, Rockliff is a Dreamteam god. And because he's in your team, you tend to take special notice of him. I can't think of a player who racks up as many possessions as he does, and has so little impact. He butchers the ball more than most.

I think it was also reported early in the year that he was after megabucks, so he wouldn't come cheap. I'd stay clear.

 

12 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Another absolute gun that people like to talk down.  Get him.

Help!  I'm so confused...

[Gator 17,972]

An accumulator with poor hurt factor.

Slow too.

Notwithstanding that, he's clearly a very good player.

It's a no from me.  We have more pressing needs.

[dazzledavey36 55,892]

23 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Heard on the radio  that he is keen on Hawrhorn.

Of course he is...

#equalrights

[Redleg 41,952]

30 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Heard on the radio  that he is keen on Hawrhorn.

What a surprise.

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

He just keeps on coming up for discussion - AFL: Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff's road ahead unclear

[Wiseblood 24,637]

He keeps coming up, but it seems totally media driven at the moment.  Not much else to suggest they would trade him.

However, it does seem the Lions will do something major with a key player in their side - at the moment that looks to be Hanley, if they can find a taker who will part with a first round pick.  They need to tear it all down and start again.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Reckon the media are just taking advantage of destabilising a destabilised club that nobody cares about. Gossip sells!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,103]

SEN said today that Brisbane want to offload him but nobody was willing to take him off their hands. I know he's got some attitudpe problems, but that seems a bit much.

[Lord Travis 10,793]

He does have attitude problems for sure but it may be to do with his salary. I imagine he is one of, if not their highest paid player. I imagine clubs don't wanna take his contract, likely 700-800k onto their books. He's a good accumulator, but he doesn't have high hurt factor. If he didn't have such a high salary I imagine a lot of clubs would be jumping all over him.

[Nasher 33,617]

33 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

He does have attitude problems for sure but it may be to do with his salary. I imagine he is one of, if not their highest paid player. I imagine clubs don't wanna take his contract, likely 700-800k onto their books. He's a good accumulator, but he doesn't have high hurt factor. If he didn't have such a high salary I imagine a lot of clubs would be jumping all over him.

The old "I don't really get it, so I'll make up a high salary and attribute it to that" trick.

[Mach5 4,768]

I think Brisbane see Rockliff as an asset they could offload & get some decent picks to build a list with, but other clubs aren't interested in recruiting him for what he'd cost (both in trade and salary).

[Lord Travis 10,793]

57 minutes ago, Nasher said:

The old "I don't really get it, so I'll make up a high salary and attribute it to that" trick.

If you go by previous media reports he was lined up for 800k a year and the length was the sticking point. You'd think he was on close to that, Brisbane don't have many other decent players and need to pay a minimum salary cap, similar to us a few years ago when many players were earning more than they should have.

Either way he's a decent footballer. It I'd steer clear. There should be better targets out there for us.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

17 hours ago, Mach5 said:

I think Brisbane see Rockliff as an asset they could offload & get some decent picks to build a list with, but other clubs aren't interested in recruiting him for what he'd cost (both in trade and salary).

I'd assume they'd want a couple of first rounders for him? he's a handy player but not many sides would give up two good players for someone like that

[Flamingdees 227]

I'd be inclined to give up Dunn and next years first rounder.

[71 Molloy 266]

Gun but in the cultural vacuum that is the Lions his worse qualities have come the fore and is not at all liked by many members of the club.

Would thrive in a strong team environment with the wise heads to get him to pull his head in.  Lions don't have this and know it hence trying to punt him. He and Handley are close from what I know so surprised if they both go.

He is also pretty handy up forward. 

[Redleg 41,952]

I reckon the Lions would pay part of his salary too.

They don't want him as Captain and he will probably coast if he stays there. They know it.

[Mickey 4,756]

20 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I reckon the Lions would pay part of his salary too.

They don't want him as Captain and he will probably coast if he stays there. They know it.

If we could be sure that he wouldn't be a bad influence, and they paid part of it, I wouldn't say no. He is an accumulator, which we lack

[deelete my account 1,194]

21 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I reckon the Lions would pay part of his salary too.

They don't want him as Captain and he will probably coast if he stays there. They know it.

Will they pay for a lobotomy?