Meg Saultry takes a late-season look at how the region’s AFL stars are travelling this year, and spoke to Tom Rockliff ahead of his round 17 clash against his old club Brisbane last Saturday.
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TOM ROCKLIFF, Port Adelaide
Career games: 184. Career goals: 94.
2019 games: 12. Goals: 0.
Disposals: 376 (av. 31.3)
Key stat: 154 uncontested possessions (av. 12.8)
After an injury-interrupted debut season with Port Adelaide last year, Benalla product Tom Rockliff is getting back to the ball-winning ways he first demonstrated in nine seasons with the Brisbane Lions.
‘‘I’ve been individually consistent across the season,’’ Rockliff said.
‘‘I’m having impact at the right times, and in the contest.
‘‘But I’ve also been quiet in games and injuries haven’t helped.’’
After starting the season in fine form, in Port Adelaide’s round 10 loss Hawthorn, Rockliff was struck down with a hamstring injury.
‘‘I went to take off and nicked it — it set me back three games and the bye,’’ he said.
Rockliff missed his club’s round 11 showcase match against StKilda in Shanghai, along with a month of football, and while ready to go for Western Bulldogs in round 15, he was made to find his touch first through the SANFL.
And in a stunning display, Rockliff picked up 57 touches, 14 clearances and 12 tackles for the Port Adelaide Magpies to practically demand his spot back in the senior side.
The former Benalla Saint admitted he could not quite believe it once he was told of his accomplishments on the day.
‘‘I sort of became aware of it before the last quarter,’’ Rockliff said.
‘‘You have live stats now — so it was mentioned then.
‘‘At three-quarter time, I had about 40 touches.
‘‘It’s not something I’ve done before.
‘‘But most importantly we got the win.’’
Rockliff returned for Port for the Southern Australian Showdown against Adelaide and picked up a cool 36 disposals.
‘‘I was off the pace early — I didn’t adapt to conditions,’’ Rockliff said.
‘‘But I settled and by half-time, I was able to play my role and tried to curb the influence of (Adelaide’s) Matt Crouch.’’
And on Sunday, Rockliff lined up against his old club Brisbane for the third time since being traded at the end of 2017.
Despite Port Adelaide failing to come away with the win, Rockliff racked up 29 disposals.
With six home-and-away matches remaining this season, Rockliff is hopeful his side can build its momentum in the race towards finals.
‘‘Hopefully we’ll set ourselves up to play in September and play some good finals footy,’’ he said.
‘‘But it’s an even competition this season, I don’t know how it will pan out.’’
HARRY MORRISON, Hawthorn
Career games: 31. Career goals: 5.
2019 games: 9. Goals: 0.
Disposals: 116 (av. 12.9);
Key stat: 75 per cent disposal efficiency rate
The 20-year-old is in his third AFL season, but after playing 21 matches with the Hawks last year, has struggled to hold on to a regular spot this season.
After a strong pre-season, where he added some size to his frame, Morrison was earmarked to spend more time in the midfield alongside his traditional place on the wing.
Morrison lined up for the opening five rounds of the season, before being dropped to the seconds with Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.
But it was a standout performance (31 disposals, three goals) against Coburg that had the wingman elevated into the senior side in round eight.
He added another three matches to his tally, before slipping back to the reserves again.
Another two matches at the lower level helped Morrison gain selection in Hawthorn’s round 14 loss against Sydney, but with minimal impact, he swiftly returned to VFL where he has stayed since.
CALEB MARCHBANK, Carlton
Career games: 48. Career goals: 0
2019 games: 13. Goals: 0.
Disposals: 172 (av. 13.2);
Key stat: 79 intercept possessions (av. 6.1).
Marchbank’s bad fortune with injury continues to plague the key defender in his fifth season in the system.
The 22-year-old will have to wait to play his 50th milestone match until next season, after he suffered a season ending neck fracture in Carlton’s round 16 loss to Melbourne earlier this month.
The club will let Marchbank’s break heal naturally to avoid surgery, with Marchbank set to return ahead of pre-season at year’s end.
A back injury also limited Marchbank pre-season ahead of this season, keeping him out of the opening two matches, but Marchbank was able to find a consistent run of form in 13 matches this season, where he continues to develop as an intercept defender.