Tom Rockliff quickly changing perceptions since his move to Port Adelaide

FEW will question 2014 All-Australian midfielder Tom Rockliff’s ability as an elite footballer. But many have wondered about his personality — and character — in a team sport, a concern seemingly washing away at Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide’s midfield strategies are sharper with the pairing of Robbie Gray, left, and Brisbane recruit Tom Rockliff. Picture: Ben Macmahon (AAP)

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TOM Rockliff is yet to wear the Port Adelaide jumper in battle but already is part of the new-look leadership group at Alberton.

The 28-year-old midfielder — who was captain at Brisbane in 2015-16 — clearly has made a strong impression at the Power since taking up free agency in October. And that imprint starkly contrasts with the warnings delivered by the considerable group of detractors Rockliff had in Queensland.

When Port Adelaide made Rockliff a prime target of its busy off-season buying spree, more than once the line from the day-to-day observers at the Lions was: “Hope (coach) Kenny Hinkley knows what he is getting ...”

Power midfield coach Michael Voss, who coached Rockliff at Brisbane from 2009-13, knew exactly what the 2014 All-Australian was bringing to Alberton to give the Port Adelaide midfield more depth, more experience ... and, critically, more “smarts”.

Tom Rockliff of the Lions celebrates kicking a goal by kissing his armband in honour of his cousin. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Tom Rockliff during Port Adelaide Power's pre-season training at Alberton Oval. Picture: AAP Image/Ben Macmahon

Hinkley — and Voss’s fellow assistant coaches at Alberton — certainly know they now have TWO instinctive, game-shaping (if not changing) midfielders to enhance the Power’s work at stoppages — Rockliff and Robbie Gray.

But the knock on Rockliff — that prompted the question of whether Hinkley knew what he was getting with “Rocky” — was about how a strong-minded player with a supposedly demanding character and personality would fit into a new team group and be accepted.

There would have been a few raised eyebrows in Queensland that within months of starting a new chapter in his AFL journey that Rockliff is part of Travis Boak’s new leadership group at Port Adelaide ... and with the other player who left Queensland with critics and cynics, key forward Charlie Dixon.

Internally at Alberton, the praise of Rockliff — in particular what he has brought to the midfield planning — reaffirms the well-noted talent that made the country Victorian recruit a club champion at Brisbane in 2011 and 2014.

But it is the references to how Rockliff has won his team-mates’ approval that tells more of how a rocky road in Brisbane has become smooth at Alberton.

“Class act,” says fellow Port Adelaide midfielder and leadership group member Brad Ebert of Rockliff. “He has been really impressive off the field. His leadership — and composure — has really shown through.”

It has been a good new start for Rockliff. But there will be those in Brisbane carrying scars from their Rockliff still saying: “Hope Kenny knows what he is getting ...”

Clearly, Hinkley thinks he has got a good one.

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