HE'S THE heart and soul of the Brisbane Lions and he loves nothing more than proving people wrong.

He's cheeky, almost cocky, rubs people up the wrong way, is the club's next captain and is ever-so-quietly building a season that has him bashing down the door of the All Australian selectors.

Tom Rockliff runs out for his 100th game against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night, almost five years to the day after making his debut against the same opponent at the same venue.

Since then he has ridden a rollercoaster that – he hopes – is still on the way up.

The boy from Benalla was the Lions' 2011 club champion and finished equal fifth in Brownlow Medal voting last year, but surely this is his best season.

With Simon Black retired, Daniel Rich suffering a season-ending knee injury in round three, Brent Moloney hobbled (and now retired) with an Achilles problem, and Jack Redden (ankle) missing the final third of the season, the midfield onus has gone squarely on to Rockliff.

Pearce Hanley still cops the tightest opposition tag, but Rockliff has had his fair share this season and his numbers are incredible.

His 31.3 disposals a game is second only to Gary Ablett. And despite the odd whisper from commentators about him collecting some cheap stats, they're anything but.

The 24-year-old is ranked seventh for contested possessions, in front of the likes of Joel Selwood, Travis Boak and Scott Pendlebury. Not bad.

With 6.2 clearances a game, he is also ranked equal 11th in the league. Then there are the tackles, with 9.1 a game ranked first in the AFL.

But Rockliff is more than numbers.

He's attitude, all 183cm of him. He was overlooked in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft despite a standout TAC Cup campaign for the Murray Bushrangers and says he has enjoyed proving people wrong most of his life.

"I've always been told since I was 10 or 11 I wasn't good enough to make it," he said.

"I was too small, I'd never make it at the top level, I'd be a good country footballer back home (and nothing more). I think people putting me down has always given me an extra bit of motivation.

"You always want to prove people wrong. I got a chance with Brisbane and will be forever grateful for that opportunity.

"I'm always going to hang around and repay the faith."

When Rockliff came to the Lions, he was one of the club's worst runners after a broken leg as a 16-year-old cost him valuable pre-season training.

But with the fierce commitment that characterises his play, he is now much better than a mid-packer.

"I'm never going to be the player that runs and takes four bounces down the wing, so it's important my possessions set up others to get into attacking positions," he said.

"I like to win the footy in close and set others up.

"I used to get a lot of footy out wide and down back … but I think I've started to become more damaging and hit targets inside 50."

Despite his bulging on-field numbers, it hasn't all been plain sailing for Rockliff.

He's copped two silly suspensions this season and been involved in an after-the-siren verbal spat with Brent Harvey and Brad Scott.

Coach Justin Leppitsch, with whom he gets on tremendously well, has told him to pull his head in, but Rockliff says he wouldn't change anything.

"It's a natural thing for me to be outspoken," he said.

"I think I rub people up the wrong way as well, so it's about getting the balance right and making sure that you know the boys' personalities and how to approach each one, because every individual reacts differently.

"I had to learn a few lessons. I was thrown in the deep end as a 20-year-old into the leadership group.

"It's been an added bonus for me; I've learnt so many lessons in the three or four years I've been in the leadership group."

And while he now covets team success, Rockliff said he was proud to achieve what he had so far.

"If someone had have told me when I got drafted that I'd play 100 games and put up some of the numbers that have been put up, I wouldn't have expected that.

"The major focus for me now is team success, that's the reason you play footy. I'd much prefer to have team success and be playing finals footy."

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