Tom Rockliff appointed head Iona College coach for footy season
AIC AFL footy: Iona College has hit the Australian rules jackpot by snaring an ex-Lions captain, forming a coaching dream team for the school season starting in February. Story here.
Iona College’s AFL program has kicked its first goal before the new AIC season even gets under way with former Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff appointed as coach of the First XVIII for 2025.
Iona’s Head of High-Performance Sport and former North Melbourne AFL star Leigh Harding will join Rockliff in a dream-team coaching set-up as assistant coach, bringing a combined 349 games worth of top-flight AFL experience for the Iona players to learn from this season.
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Rockliff said the growth of AFL at Iona since the sport was introduced to the AIC competition convinced him the College was the perfect way for him to contribute to the game’s development.
“AFL footy has given me so much in my career, and I thought this was a great time to be able to give back,” Rockliff said.
“I drove past Iona just by chance one day, and I couldn’t believe how impressive the facilities were here. It reminded me of a college in America – that is what it felt like when I drove past.
“Speaking to Leigh about what he is doing in the school with AFL and where he wants to grow it to, it felt right to me and the timing was right to get involved.
“(I want to) help students’ careers to get on the right path, and start to get a few drafted and on an AFL list – potentially playing for the Brisbane Lions. But if we can get more kids out there on the footy field and being active, that is the most important thing.
“I always enjoyed my time with Leigh at the Brisbane Lions footy club. He has certainly landed on his feet here. I love the way he goes about it, he is so easy-going.
“He is adaptable and approachable, but also very clear and precise in his communication skills as well. You can see he is really passionate about growing AFL at the school.”
Rockliff said his ambition was to see Iona become a ‘footy factory’ with a quality AFL program offering genuine career pathway for players wanting to reach the game’s highest level.
“I am passionate about getting Queensland kids an opportunity, we have seen great growth over the past couple of years – last 10 years – in Queensland for AFL,” he said.
“This bayside area is really important in that as well. It is so family-populated, and there are so many boys who go to this school as well. I think it is a great opportunity to build another pathway.
“If we can become a footy factory at Iona for draftees and recruits, and we have recruiters coming out here to keep an eye on the talent, that is the most important thing.”
Importantly, Rockliff said he sees his role as Head Coach as being about more than just footy.
“There is a wide world out there as well, and I lived it and experienced it – the social media elements and other elements, and the pressures that come along with that.
“If I can pass on some tips and knowledge to these kids about that, the importance of that, and their mental wellbeing, I am happy to share my expertise and hopefully they can learn something from me.”
Iona’s AIC seasons for AFL, cricket and volleyball begin next weekend against Marist College, Ashgrove.
Rockliff’s First XVIII will be the first team on display, taking on Marist at St Eugene’s Park on February 7.
Originally published as Tom Rockliff appointed head Iona College coach for footy season
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