Motlop, 28, endured a difficult season both on and off the field in 2010.
He was limited to nine games through form and fitness and was also accused of verbally assaulting teammate Jacob Surjan's girlfriend during a night out at a local bar.
He had been linked to a possible move west to be closer to his young son and also to Geelong, where his younger brother Steven is a contracted player, but Rohde said the Power never got close to doing a deal for the former North Melbourne forward.
"There were a few clubs that showed a fair bit of interest earlier in the week, but it never materialised," Rohde said on Tuesday.
"There's no doubt that this is probably a reality check for him [Motlop].
"He knows now where he sits in the footy world and he won't be the first player to have a bad year and then have to rebound and come back and do something about it."
Motlop will see out the last year of his contract with Port Adelaide starting with pre-season training, which begins for the senior players early next month.
He was spotted working alongside skipper Dom Cassisi at Alberton on Tuesday and Rohde said he had no doubt Motlop was committed to playing for the Power.
"All the way through [trade week] Daniel was very aware of what the circumstances were. He's a contracted player for us. He's a 28-year-old and usually those players don't tend to change clubs," Rohde said.
"He's aware that at the end of the season this year he wasn't in our team, so he's got to come back and earn everyone's respect back. He's got to get himself fit and work his way back into the side.
"The ball is back in his court. He went away at the end of the season very committed to getting himself fitter and coming back in really good shape. That will be the first step in getting his career back on track."
The Power completed just one trade during the exchange period, with the club giving up its second-round compensatory pick received for Nathan Krakouer in exchange for Norwood wingman/forward Simon Phillips and Gold Coast's second-round draft pick (No.35 overall).
Port Adelaide's inability to move Motlop prevented it from making a serious play for Carlton utility Andrew Walker, who will remain at the Blues despite being linked to several clubs.
Rohde admitted he was disappointed not to snare Walker, but said the club was happy to hang on to its draft picks, which currently stand at 16, 34, 35, 51, 68, 85, 102, 119 and 136.
"We were only ever going to be in the market for Andrew Walker if someone left the club," Rohda said. "Carlton was after our first-round pick for Andrew Walker and we weren't prepared to give it up.
"The only way to get him to our club was to get a pick for Daniel or a direct swap and then use that for Andrew Walker. The financial implications were part of that as well.
"There was no doubt we went in with a desire to bring Andrew here if we could, but we weren't willing to compromise our overall long-term plan."
