AFTER a tumultuous 2016 that saw Tom Rockliff dumped as Brisbane Lions captain, the midfielder has responded by returning to the top 40 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings for the first time in almost two years.
After starting the season at No.91, Rockliff has risen to No.39.
The dual best and fairest was superb around the stoppages in the loss to the undefeated Richmond last Sunday. He racked up 15 clearances, which was a personal best. The next highest mark in the game was six, from teammates Dayne Zorko and Stefan Martin.
Winning the ball at stoppages has been a point of excellence for the 27-year-old. Part of that has been his connection with Martin. The ruckman has returned to form after a relatively quiet campaign last season.
Rockliff averages 12 clearances per game this season, clearly ahead of Adelaide star Rory Sloane (8.3), Sydney bull Josh Kennedy and Geelong Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield (both eight).
Versus the Tigers, he had 33 disposals, five inside 50s and gained 370m.
The 21 contested possessions he won and 11 tackles he laid were both game-high numbers.
His individual Player Ratings score of 29.1 had him at third of all players for round four, behind Adelaide pair Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker.
The last time the Victorian was in the top 40 of the Player Ratings was round 12, 2015, and he has a career-high rank of No.16.
Player Ratings are calculated by Champion Data, looking at a player's form over their past 40 games over a rolling two-year period. More recent performances are given greater weighting.
The Lion has played just 35 games in that time, so he will likely have plenty of improvement left in his ranking.
Rockliff came close to leaving the Lions at the end of last season after a disastrous campaign that saw the side win just three games and Justin Leppitsch sacked as coach.
Ultimately, club and player decided Rockliff would fulfill his contract for 2017, upon which point he will become a restricted free agent. Under the leadership of new coach Chris Fagan and football manager David Noble, Rockliff rehabilitated his reputation among the playing group to the point where he was voted vice-captain, with Dayne Beams named skipper.
In other Player Ratings news, Collingwood had the five highest-ranked players on the ground in its loss to St Kilda. Scott Pendlebury, Jeremy Howe, Brodie Grundy, Henry Schade and Taylor Adams all finished ahead of St Kilda's No.1 player, Leigh Montagna. That has happened just three other times since 2010.
