Speaking last week at the launch of the Lions' 3-Peat Anniversary Luncheon, which will be held on March 21, Matthews was blunt in his assessment of when he thought the club could claim another flag.
"Maybe never," Matthews said. "There is no certainty in these things."
He then softened his stance and said his old club was likely to become contenders in 2013 after missing the finals for three straight seasons.
"The Lions aren't in that [premiership window] yet, but they might be in 2013, because no one knows that. No one knows what the future holds and that's the reality," he said.
Rockliff, 22, said the young Lions' group was unconcerned about Matthews' comments.
"The boys don't really listen to much in the media. We just go about our business, especially at this time of year," Rockliff told the club's website.
"Premierships are quite hard to win and we obviously set ourselves to do it every year – that's why you play footy.
"Nothing is ever [un]achievable and the way the group is shaping at the moment, we're heading in the right direction.
"To never say it's going to happen, that's a big quote but I guess time will tell."
The Lions have been back training since November 5, while 18 of them – including Rockliff – recently had a two-week altitude training course in Arizona.
Rockliff said he was fit and predicted a more prominent move back into the midfield in 2013 after he spent time in the forward line towards the end of last season.
"At this stage, I'm probably in the best shape I've been in the four or five years I've been at the club," he said.
"Hopefully I'll play in the midfield and then drift down there [into the forward line] to rest.
"The boys have come back in really good shape, I think it's the best we've ever prepared ourselves for a pre-season and we're heading in the right direction.
"Hopefully we can finish the pre-season really strong and then play some really good pre-season games and see what happens when the season comes around."
He also said the Lions' young engine room felt it was time for them to take another step if the team was to be better placed next year.
"It starts with us in the midfield and it starts with us on game day," he said.
"We've built a couple of years together now and you throw [former Melbourne player] Brent Moloney into that mix and we're starting to really mature well together as a group and hopefully we can see some success."
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
