11:00
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
Hey guys ready to go. Fire away

11:00
Josh Porter:
hey rocky, how's the feeling around the team atm?

11:01
Luke:
tom, is it much harder for the group to get up for a game against melbourne than it is playing the dogs? obviously it's just as important to beat melbourne, if not more important. but is the motivation still there?

11:01
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
The feeling is pretty good, we are ready to take on Melbourne this weekend

11:02
anton:
gidday rocky, i noticed on Sat night at the game that there is a lot more poise and composure, particularly as we break forward in attack. you and staker stopped and thought about options a couple of times when in the past we've had a habit of blazing away, is this something that's worked on. congrats on yr first two games this year too, helping my sc team!

11:02
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
The motivation is certinly there, its a massive game for us and Melbourne are in really good form

11:03
Luke:
a lot of people are picking you up in fantasy land this week after an impressive few weeks as a bottom priced player.. are you confident you can keep notching up those touches?

11:04
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
thanks anton, yeah its really important for us to lower our eyes and hit targets going forward instead of just bombing long.
hey luke, i hope to keep playing my role within the team and if that includes getting points for dreamteam then i hope i can keep doing well for you guys.

11:05
Josh Porter:
Hey Tom, I watched you play in the 1st reserves game and you looked really good. What soort of things did you work on in the pre season.

11:07
Luke:
does Trav johnstone cop much crap for his beard? he is becoming the new cult hero - jesus!

11:07
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
hey josh, thanks for that. i really worked hard on my fitness over the break and alot of game patterns and where to run to find the footy. it was a good preseason for all the team and we are really well drilled. all the coaching staff have been clear on our roles, espcially jade the blade

11:09
Sam Dickens:
Hi tom your first 2 games this year have been Really good is it good playing in th a's after a while

11:10
Luke:
tom, after missing out on the national draft in 2008 were you extremely disappointed or always confident you would get picked up in the pre season draft?

11:10
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
hey sam, thanks for that. yeah it is great to get up and play senior footy and play along with some of the best footballers to ever play. its very exciting

11:11
Sam Dickens:
Hi tom is the really happy with how they are going and excited about this wek

11:12Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
luke, i was very disapointed when i missed out and no i was worried that my chance had past in 2008 to get picked up. lucky enough brisbane took a chance on me and i got my chance to play

11:13
Josh:
Hey Tom, what are your goals for this year?

11:13
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
sam, yeah our form has been ok but we can still improve our game. everyone is excitied about our first game in melbourne for the year and are ready for a hard faught contest agaisnt the dees

11:13
Sam Dickens:
Hey Tom is the team really excited about the chances they have this year and are they excited about this week playing at the mcg

11:13
Luke:
does much sledging get thrown about in the AFL? for eg. when fev lined up for goal on saturday night would there have been dogs players throwing chat about gambling etc.

11:14
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
josh, i have not really set alot of goals for the year and the more senior footy i can get under my belt the better and the more i can learn
sam, the team are just focused one this week and the next month of footy we have some big games and its going to be a good test for the month with the dees, swans and dockers over the next three weeks

11:16
Luke:
there were rumours going around in round 2 you had a 7 goal 40 possession game in the reserves? is that true?

11:17
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
luke, yeah there is a little bit thrown around between players, i dont say much as i am only just starting as for fev i am sure he gets a bit thrown at him but i would say he throws a bit back to them aswell

11:17
Christian:
mate, you and Redden are guns !!!! keep up the great footy !

11:18
Sam Dickens:
hey Tom what is fev like around the club

11:18
Luke:
do the boys ever have a few beers after a win or is that strictly offseason business these days?

11:18
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
luke, we had a good win against mt. gravatt and no i didnt kick 7 and have 40, i think it was 6 and 34
hey christian, thanks for that

11:20
Josh:
Tom, what player in the AFL would you love to man up on?

11:20
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
sam, fev is great around the club, he is very upbeat all the time no matter of what is going on. although he does rate his table tennis a little high
luke, i think a few boys dont mind a couple of quite beers after games, nothing over the top but something to help them relax

11:21
Sam Dickens:
Hey Tom How is Jamie Charman going with his ankle injury

11:21
Luke:
tom, any idea if mitch & ash will be back in the seniors this week, and if so, who will be making way?

11:22
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
josh, i am not sure i would like to man up on him but i would love to play against jimmy bartel, i think he is a great player and would love to learn stuff off him

11:23
kel:
good game against the doggies rocky!!!

11:23
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
sam, jamie is going well, he is around 2-4 weeks away

11:23
Christian:
Tom, who did you follow in the AFL before you joined the Lions ?

11:24
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
tough question luke, i would say they would come in but for who i am unsure. i am glad the match commitee have to make that decison
thanks kel
christian i was a tiger man

11:25
Luke:
a tiger man? i bet you are glad you are a lions man now, haha.

11:25
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
luke yes very happy to be a lion now

11:25
Sam Dickens:
Tom , How have all the off season recruits fit in to the club?

11:25
Josh:
Rocky, did you ever get star struck when you first played? Did you treat them any differently on the field?

11:26
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
sam they have all fitted in really well and all the boys are getting on well

11:27
Dezza:
Hi Tom, where do you think you will be playing in the future, whether it be the wing, half-back or half-forward, and where would you prefer to play?

11:27
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
josh no i dont think i was star struck but the pace of the game was very quick and you dont really treat anyone differently on the field

11:27
Luke:
rocky being a tigers man i'm sure you knew of andrew raines before you came into the afl, he was always heavily scrutinized at the tigers but seems to be playing great footy now. he must be thriving on a winning culture.

11:27
Sam Dickens:
Hey Tom does Simon black look like he will play this week?

11:27
kel:
Todd banfield is a fantastic addition to our team. a great young talent

11:28
Lukey T:
Hey Rocky u played really well against western bulldogs! and also which position do you usually prefer to play since I heard you were a top goal scorer in TAC Cup 2008.

11:28
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
dezza, i would be happy to get a spot anywhere in the team and just playing a role for the team, but my personal preference would be midfield
luke, yeah i knew a little bit about andrew but he is playing really good footy here now and has no injury problems to speak of
sam blacky will have a run around tomorrow and go through a fitness test so watch this space
kel, todd has been great and adds some speed into the team

11:30
Sam Dickens:
hopefull he plays

11:30
Josh:
Thanks Tom for your time Its been great talking to you Good like sat night. GO LIONS

11:30
Luke:
does vossy's game plan ever involve trying to get the ball into the hands of our best kickers for inside 50s. eg rich, drummond, trav johnstone, ash mcgrath?

11:31
Dezza:
How are pulling up after each game? I know that the increased speed/physicality of the AFL competition may put an extra toll on your body, are you at all struggling to back it up? Disclaimer though, I hope you're pulling up fine

11:31
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
lukey thank you for that. i played full forward alot in the tac because of my lack of fitness

11:31
Christian:
Tom good luck this week, and hopefully a great win, l'm taking my kids to the game for the first time, go lions

11:31
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
i will answer these last question then i have to go
thanks josh

11:32
kel:
thanks for answering the questions rocky hope to see u play against the demons keep up the great work rocky!!!

11:32
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
luke not really but it is great to have the footy in there hands

11:32
Sam Dickens:
What do you think of Daniel Rich's Year So far

11:33
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
dezza it is definitely harder but i have been pulling up well

11:33
Luke:
cheers rocky good luck for the year mate.

11:34
Dezza:
Great to hear, thanks for answering questions and I hope you continue to play well / recover well! - I hope Vossy knows the Dees may be a danger game for the Lions.

11:34
Tom Rockliff (Rocky):
sam, richys year has been ok to date just building into the season well and he has more attention from opposition players
ok got to go, dezza this will be a very hard game this week
not taking it lightly

11:35
Dezza:
Looking forward to a great game!

11:35
Sam Dickens:
should be good

11:36
Lions Admin:
Thank you for participating in Lions Live Chat with Tom Rockliff. Stay tuned to www.lions.com.au for details on James Polkinghorne's chat session later this week.