Rockliff finished seventh overall in the AFL Players’ MVP Award earlier this week, behind Leigh Matthews Trophy winner Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast), Lance Franklin (Sydney), Dyson Heppell (Essendon), Josh Kennedy (Sydney), and Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood).
It was a phenomenal achievement by the 24-year-old, particularly as votes are cast by the AFL players themselves.
It further goes to prove that Rockliff is fast reaching the competition’s absolute elite.
Many are predicting him to poll well for the second year in a row at the Brownlow Medal, however he remains eligible to win the coveted prize due to being suspended twice throughout the 2014 season.
Meanwhile, 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star Lewis Taylor had to settle for third place in the AFLPA’s Best First Year Player Award, behind the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli, and St Kilda’s Luke Dunstan.
Taylor also surprisingly missed out on being selected in the AFLPA’s final 22under22 side – along with fellow nominees James Aish and Ryan Lester.
In other awards, Geelong’s Joel Selwood was voted Most Courageous Player, while Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge received the Best Captain award.
