TOM ROCKLIFF'S relentless drive to make those around him better was the catalyst for his inclusion in Port Adelaide's leadership group, skipper Travis Boak says.
Former Brisbane Lions captain Rockliff was on Wednesday handed an official leadership role with the Power before playing a single game for the club.
The 27-year-old played 154 games with the Lions before signing a four-deal with the Power at the end of last season.
"What Rocky brings into the leadership group is his demanding presence on the field," Boak said.
"For him to help a lot of our younger guys through the midfield and certainly go forward and help direct, that's where he stands out the most.
"He's done a lot of training over the last four, five weeks since he's come back from the shoulder (injury), and you can see straight away, he's out there directing, telling people where to go.
"That's why he's a quality leader."
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Rockliff captained the Lions in 2015 and 2016 before he was replaced by Dayne Beams last year.
Despite being on a modified training program following shoulder surgery, Rockliff quickly earnt the respect of the Power players when they voted for their leaders.
Power coach Ken Hinkley and Boak – the longest-serving captain in the Power's AFL existence entering his sixth year in charge - left it up to Rockliff to decide if he wanted to take on that extra responsibility in his first season at a new club.
"I came in with no expectations to be in this role or anything like that," Rockliff said.
"As the way it's panned out, the boys voted for that and with the discussions with Kenny and Trav, they sort of left it up to me.
"I said, I'm here to win and perform any role that they want me to, and that was to go into the leadership group and I think I've got something to provide."
In news that will delight AFL Fantasy coaches around the country, Rockliff said he would play a similar on-field role at the Power to what he did at the Lions – playing predominately in the midfield while spending some time up forward.
"It'll be much the same as what it's been in the past, midfield-forward," Rockliff said.
"The good thing is we've got depth, so we can play a few tricks and manipulate hopefully the opposition the way we want to play.
"There's a number of players who can through the midfield and go forward, but predominately, I'll be a midfielder and spend time down forward as well.
"That's a luxury we have at the moment, the ability to drift in and out, inside the contest, outside the contest and go forward."
Key forward Charlie Dixon is the other new face in the Power's leadership group after a career-best season 2017, booting 49 goals and finishing runner-up to Paddy Ryder in the club's best and fairest count.
Midfield bull Ollie Wines remains vice-captain, while Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett and Tom Jonas round out the leadership group.
