Big Ant Rocca

[Angelus512]

Ok I think Rocca deserves his own thread with the performance he's put in lately....wait for it.....a GOOD performance.
With all the threads going around you all thought it was going to be a Rocca bagging thread?
If you answered YES to that question then it only illustrates how pathetic some of the posters on this board have made things of late.

Anywho back on topic. Did anybody notice the little ticker tape when Ant was shooting for goal that said Rocca is #1 in the AFL for contested marks at this stage?
Well I did, and even if I didn't i'd still think he was.

Rocca has been absolutely marvelous since round 1. He might not have kicked a massive bag yet but keep in mind Rocca is not of the caliber of say Fevola or Lloyd anymore who can kick a bag whilst being the ONLY target in a forward 50.
As Anthony is pretty much our only target with T Cloke struggling a fair bit and nobody else BIG enough to bust a few heads Ant has conducted himself well.

If you think about it the defenders have so little opposition in our forward 50 they could and HAVE just blanket Ant. Yet still he continues to take marks against 2 or more opponents as well as kick straight.

All up genuinely pleased for Ant that he's looking solid. Can anybody see forward to the next 4 weeks or so when Buckley and Didak and Medders return? With those guys (specifically Buckley) in the forward 50 Ant will have far less opposition and could potentially start snagging 5 goals a match on a regular basis.

to Rocca.

 

[WakeUpPies]

Rocca might be fat and lazy but it is effective, just kick it long to him

 

[Coin_Toss]

Rocca loves the ball coming to him quickly. If you don't get it to him he won't kick any goals, and in the third quarter we didn't get the ball to him. Simple as that.

 

[turned over a new leaf]

They dropped Willets back - MM as usual did not respond.

It meant the long bomb was not going to work - desperately needed a didak up and around the fifty.

Need a couple more players with really good kicking skills - depth ....

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Do the stats and noticed Rocca pulls in the contested marks, but I only do them for Coll so didn't know if he was no.1, but sure would've been up there, and as you mentioned, he is.

Good stuff Pebbles

 

[Stakerz]

How good were his grabs in the wet?

 

[Big Bryza]

Been outstanding especially in a forward where he seems the only bloke likely to take a contested mark.

 

[WakeUpPies]

isn't rocca leading the league in contested marks? should that be a indication that the players should just kick it long to him when they can

 

[didaka]

He's in really good form. He is grabbing everything that comes his way. As Collingwood faded yesterday so did Rocca, but only due to the fact he wasn't getting any chances. I would like to see him play in a side that gives him every chance with their delivery.

Sadly Rocca suffers from a syndrome that he cannot help. It's called being a Collingwood key forward. Don't they get a bagging.

 

[Kirk Hinrich #12]

Our best player this year IMO

 

[Frederlick]

Good point. Medhurst would have been an ideal foil to Rocca, given the conditions. 4 odd goal loss nothing to slit wrists over.

 

[WakeUpPies]

rocca free to play

 

[luvlicca]

he should never have been reported for starters!!

but he has been very good since round 1. I too had no idea he was leading the contested marks. good job Anthony!!

 

[gormanisahack]

Rocca loves the ball coming to him quickly. If you don't get it to him he won't kick any goals, and in the third quarter we didn't get the ball to him. Simple as that.

Agreed.

 

[turned over a new leaf]

he should never have been reported for starters!!

but he has been very good since round 1. I too had no idea he was leading the contested marks. good job Anthony!!

Well who could possibly be surprised about that. Lat week you stated that Licca was hiitng the chests of the key forwards with his kicks- This week you said that he was kicking the ball better. He must have been awesome then.

Woman you have no idea.

 

[M-Train]

I agree, Rocca has had a very good year to date.

Even though he hasnt kicked any bags, what he has done is provide us with a target. He has crashed the packs, taken the occasional contested grab, run straight though defenders, and brought the ball to ground. Hes first 4 rounds have been just how a good centre half forward should play.