Tom Rockliff’s 100th game was played at the same time, at the same venue, and against the same opponent as his very first AFL game back in Round 22 of 2009.
But that’s where the similarities ended.
Not only did the Lions produce an emphatic 67-point this time around to help celebrate the occasion, but Rockliff himself had a slightly more productive evening.
In his debut match, Rockliff managed just five disposals and one tackle in just over 50% of game time. In a sign of how far the 24-year-old has come, last Saturday night he had 43 disposals and nine tackles in first-class display.
Remarkably, it was the fourth time in seven matches that the Vice-Captain has collected 40 or more possessions.
Forget all the talk about Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe, Tom Rockliff may prove the unlucky man come Brownlow night.
THREE AMIGOS
Rockliff wasn’t the only dominant midfielder in the maroon, blue, and gold at the MCG, with Dayne Zorko and Pearce Hanley also tearing the Pies apart.
The red-hot trio combined for 113 disposals, 22 clearances, 20 tackles and 19 inside 50 entries.
History shows that when those three players are on song together, the Lions are very difficult to beat.
Zorko was arguably the best player on the ground, with a career-best 36 disposals and a game-high nine clearances.
“That combo has been working well for us. We’ve got a good balance in there at the moment and it will only get better when Daniel Rich and Jack Redden come back next year,” Zorko told The Courier Mail.
172 POINTS IN SIX DAYS
Using the famous Forrest Gump analogy, the Lions are a bit like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re going to get.
That has never been more evident than in the past fortnight, with the Lions falling to Adelaide at home by 105 points – the Club’s biggest ever defeat at the Gabba – yet toppling Collingwood by 67 points just six days later.
The incredible 172-point turnaround highlighted both the highs and lows that are often associated with young and developing sides.
FREEMAN’S DREAMIN’
Jono Freeman had never been to the MCG before last Saturday, but left the ground with a game-high four goals next to his name.
Freeman might have only had five kicks, but he scored with every one of them and, most importantly, was accurate in front of the big sticks.
It was a terrific return for the first ever Hyundai Lions Academy graduate to play a senior AFL match with the Club.
CAPTAIN’S KNOCK
He might not get the same plaudits as some of his teammates, but Captain Jed Adcock’s display against the Pies simply can’t be ignored.
It was the quintessential Captain’s performance by Adcock, who finished the game with 25 disposals (an equal season-high), a season-high nine tackles, six inside 50s (despite playing largely off half- back), one goal, and three goal assists.
One moment that typified Adcock’s effort came midway through the second term, when he laid a bone-crunching tackle on Alan Toovey, who decided to take the Lion King on.
The tackle earned Adcock a free kick inside 50m, and he kicked truly from a difficult angle. Not only did it help give the Lions a bit of breathing room, but the act itself helped set the standard for the rest of his team.
STEFAN THE INCREDIBLE
Stefan Martin appears in this column every week, but that’s because his influence simply can’t be ignored.
Martin can stake absolute claim to being the best ruckman in the competition over the past couple of months, after another stunning display that reaped a career-best 32 disposals, seven marks and 27 hitouts.
He was a handful for Collingwood pair Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts all night.
Martin’s recent form even forced Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch to ask the question whether he might even be a smoky for the Brownlow Medal.
MORE CAREER BESTS
It’s also worth noting that Rising Star chance Lewy Taylor and in-form midfielder Jack Crisp posted career-best disposal numbers last Saturday night with 24 and 22 respectively.
AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Tom Rockliff – 165 points
2. Pearce Hanley – 147 points
3. Dayne Zorko – 130 points
4. Stefan Martin – 123 points
5. Jed Adcock – 110 points
WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Zorko, Rockliff, Hanley, Martin, Freeman, and Adcock as the Lions’ best, but who do YOU think were the team’s three best players?
Vote now online for the Club Player of the Year
