It's a bold claim considering the Lions finished 15th in 2011 with just four wins, but Rockliff believes the development of their young group could see them take huge strides this year.
"I think we showed enough signs last year that we are good enough as a group to play finals footy and we took it up to the top eight teams last year," Rockliff said.
"Collingwood got us by three goals [in round 22] and we took it to West Coast in round 23, so we're thereabouts and we know if we play for the four quarters than anything can happen on any given day."
Rockliff won the best and fairest last year in just his third season, proving he is a player - along with Jack Redden and Daniel Rich - coach Michael Voss can build a midfield around.
"I still haven't played a finals game yet, so that's my aim this year and that's the way the footy club wants to move forward and we want to play finals footy," Rockliff said.
"If we click as a group who knows what can happen?"
Rockliff also pointed to the return of senior men Jonathan Brown (facial fractures), Daniel Merrett (back) and Josh Drummond (hip) from injury, the development of James Polkinghorne and Todd Banfield and the emergence of youngsters Patrick Karnezis and Ryan Lester as key planks in the Lions' resurgence.
"We have young forwards and a young midfield group coming through nicely together so the more games we can get into each other and the more structures and set-ups we can get going this pre-season, it's going to help us down the road," Rockliff said.
Rockliff said ex-Fremantle coach Mark Harvey, who was appointed Lions assistant coach in November, had added another layer to the club's pre-season program.
"[Harvey] challenges everyone on everything and makes sure our training standards are high and we're moving forward as a unit," he said.
"He's been great for the footy club.
"I think him working down there with Brown is going to help our young forward line."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
