Tom Rockliff’s friendships with Brisbane players will remain strong, regardless of Saturday’s result at Adelaide Oval

DINNER with old mates one night, fierce combatants the next.Football can be a funny game sometimes, as Port Adelaide’s Tom Rockliff writes.

Tom Rockliff celebrates a goal with Claye Beams, right, last year. Picture: AAP Image

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DINNER with old mates one night, fierce combatants the next.

Football can be a funny game sometimes.

But at the end of the day, that’s what it is — a game — and my friendships with Brisbane players will remain strong, regardless of what happens at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

When it comes to pre-game nerves, however, there’s no doubt they have sat a bit heavier in the stomach this week as my new club Port Adelaide goes head-to-head with my former team the Lions.

I have mixed emotions about the game.

I circled Saturday’s date in my calendar when the AFL draw was released in October and, having spent nine years at Brisbane and given the footy club everything I had, I know it will be an interesting experience.

I’m comfortable that we parted ways on pretty good terms with the club understanding that I wanted to look after my long-term future and chase more immediate success.

I remain mates with my former teammates and the Lions coaching, support and medical staff.

After the team arrived in town from Brisbane on Friday afternoon, the plan was to have dinner with Lewy Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Darcy Gardiner, Rohan Bewick and Ryan Lester, who I am pretty tight with.

Two of my other best mates when I was at Brisbane, Jack Redden and Pearce Hanley, are no longer at the club, having joined West Coast and Gold Coast.

Assistant coach Ben Hudson, a former Crow who I played with at Brisbane, is also a good friend.

How my mates react to me being an opponent for the first time will be interesting.

Once we cross that white line and the ball is bounced for the first time I’m not sure what to expect and whether they’ll come hard after me or get the sledging going.

I won’t be too fussed either way and will be focusing solely on trying to play my role for Port.

My form isn’t as good as I would like but coach Ken Hinkley has been really supportive and publicly backed me in.

I’m still finding my feet and am probably playing catch-up a little bit after missing the pre-season games with a knee injury.

Tom Rockliff and Pearce Hanley after a goal against West Coast Eagles. Both have now departed the Lions. Picture: Darren England.

I’ve been playing about 60 per cent of game time with a 50 per cent split between midfield and attack.

The more I play the better I should get and I’m really looking forward to this game.

Having played at Brisbane last season, Ken — as he does with all players who have come from other clubs — has tapped into my knowledge of the Lions players and their game plan.

Charlie Cameron has been in electric form for Brisbane. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

With some off-season list changes they are obviously going to be playing a little bit different to the past, especially with the zip that former Crow Charlie Cameron has brought to the team.

He has been in sparkling form, lighting up games with his blistering speed and goalkicking.

But there are some similarities to last year and I will pass on as much knowledge as I can to our playing group and coaching staff to make sure we are well prepared and up for the contest.

Midfielder-forward Zorko is Brisbane’s barometer.

He is the type of player who can have 30 disposals, kick three goals and lay 10 tackles, so it’s important we do all we can to limit his influence.

Captain Dayne Beams is an elite midfielder and stoppage player while ruckman Stefan Martin is a late bloomer who continues to grow his game, so we need to work hard against them to get the job done around the contest.

Coaching-wise, the Lions are in really good hands.

Chris Fagan is an outstanding coach and person who has his young team playing with passion and purpose.

While winless this season, they were competitive against both St Kilda and Melbourne.

But Port has every reason to attack Saturday’s game with great confidence.

After beating Fremantle at home in round one, our round two victory against Sydney at the SCG was special.

It was the first time I had tasted success at the ground and while we couldn’t get our game going in the first half — credit must go to our young defence for keeping us in the match — our second was full of merit.

Tom Rockliff, left, with Dougal Howard at Port’s captain’s run at Adelaide Oval on Friday. Picture SARAH REED

We changed a few things up, with “Dicko’’ (Charlie Dixon) going into the ruck, but the thing that stood out most to me was our ability to change the momentum of the game.

That’s a big tick for us because if you want to play consistently good footy and go deep into the finals you need to be able to change the momentum when things aren’t going your way.

I’ve never seen a game plan like what Ken and his coaching staff have produced at Port and full credit must go to them.

While the players are given some freedom to express themselves, the game plan is very structured with all 18 blokes on the field in sync both offensively and defensively.

We work together as one and should continue to grow as the new players, such as myself, Jack Watts and Steven Motlop, get used to playing their roles in the team.

After the opening two rounds, perhaps our biggest challenge is to start better.

That will be a focus against Brisbane, so we will be looking to be at the top of our game early on and trying to put them under as much pressure as we can.

And when it’s all said and done, I'm sure me and my former teammates will shake hands and wish only good things for each other moving forward.