The 18-year-old grew up idolising Brownlow Medallist Michael Voss, the very man who will be Rockliff's new coach after he was snapped up by the Brisbane Lions in last Tuesday’s NAB AFL Pre-Season draft.
Rockliff was named best and fairest in last year’s Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup premiership team, but admitted he had almost given up on being drafted by an AFL club after missing out in the national draft.
The Lions did talk to Rockliff when he attended the draft camp in October, but said his selection as the number five pre-season pick still came as a surprise.
``I just shook for about half an hour, I couldn’t believe it,’’ he said.
The reaction was similar around the rest of the Rockliff family with Tom’s mother Jill ``crying for about two hours with excitement’’.
The creative small forward said Lions' fans could expect him to give a good contest in one-on-one situations but was aware he had areas to work on.
``I’ve got to get a bit more speed and endurance up first, which is something I’ll be working on in the pre-season,’’ he said.
``My athleticism is probably my weakness. I’m a footballer first and athlete second.
``I can read the play fairly well and usually read where the ball will drop before my opponent.’’
Rockliff broke his left leg at the national under-16 championships in 2006 and had the pins removed only late last year.
This will be his first full pre-season for three years.
``But I’m over the moon and can’t wait to get up there and start training.’’
Rockliff arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday for a rookie induction and will complete a couple of training sessions with his new teammates before the Lions split for their 10 day Christmas break.
The leading goalkicker in this year’s TAC Cup competition said he was a huge fan of Voss and was excited about coming to Brisbane.
``You look up to blokes like him and James Hird who do things right on and off the field,’’ Rockliff said.
``[The Lions] are rebuilding and I think they are moving forward. With Vossy taking over as coach it’ll be a new experience for everyone and very exciting.’’
