Has top Pie hit Rocca bottom?

[Dave The Man]

• IT IS the week when footy sets aside team ethic and furiously argues the merits of the individual.

Colleague Mike Sheahan has again assumed more prominence than Kevin Rudd as he celebrates his 20th annual attempt at ranking the best 50 players in the competition.
It is not possible for you to consume your usual helping of Melbourne media this week and avoid the great debate.
As I combed his list with microscopic intent on page 75 yesterday - like every other opinionated footy fan - my attention was diverted by a picture on the adjoining page.
It showed Collingwood's veteran forward Anthony Rocca grimacing in pain as he stepped through a training run 10 days out from the start of his 15th AFL season.
Sadly, it is the closest Rocca will get to the elite players in the competition these days.
He has always had the physical attributes to land a regular spot on Sheahan's list, alongside fellow big forwards Jonathan Brown, Matthew Pavlich and Matthew Richardson.
Yet as these players continue to leave their mark each season and others such as Lance Franklin make theirs, Rocca has gradually drifted into the ranks of the forgotten, hampered at times by injury but mostly by an inability to harness his God-given gifts.
As he recovers from off-season ankle surgery and sets his sights on Round 1, Rocca has one last season to prove he is not one of those Collingwood players whose reputation exceeds his record.
In 238 games, Rocca has averaged 10.8 disposals, 4.9 marks and 1.7 goals a game. Almost every key forward in the game in the past decade or so has a better game average.
There is Richardson (14.0 disposals, 8.0 marks, 2.9 goals), Brown (14.7, 7.1, 2.1), Barry Hall (12.2, 6.8, 2.4) and Matthew Lloyd (13.1, 6.3, 3.5).
Pavlich (17.1 disposals, 6.5 marks, 2.0 goals), Nick Riewoldt (16.1, 8.9, 2.0), Brendan Fevola (10.7, 5.0, 3.0), Lance Franklin (12.9, 5.0, 2.9), Warren Tredrea (14.4, 7, 2.1) and Scott Lucas (15, 5.7, 1.8) are also ahead of him, as is the retired Fraser Gehrig (11.5, 5.3, 2.1).
Figures rarely tell the whole story, but what is conclusive is that Rocca lags every one of his peers in the areas that count most for a key forward.
Rocca, though, is fiercely defended when put under the microscope. Indeed, few underperformers get so much protection from their club as Rocca, but we are talking Collingwood and a much-loved veteran.
The Magpie coaching panel is emphatic that he remains an asset. Critics are condemned for failing to see the value of that 105kg frame busting open packs. Yet, it happens so infrequently that such memories are not easily recollected.
At 31 and with the Magpies forward set-up getting younger and more versatile, time is running out for him.
It's now or never for Rocca to justify the belief in him and prove he really is an elite player.

Doubt Rocca will ever again be a Elite Player but Still love him to be a Impact Player

Story Here

 

[mdc]

Might as well have called it "Anthony Rocca, worst 200 game player ever".

What a steaming pile of shit.

 

[Snag Breac]

Might as well have called it "Anthony Rocca, worst 200 game player ever".

What a steaming pile of shit.

I would say shite, but otherwise fuly endorse your sentiments.

What is it with the media drive to drag Collingwood down this year? The season hasn't even started and already our president, coach and captain have all had more speculative attention than they'd ever want. Are they now going to work through the playing list, starting with one of our taller poppies? Is it a case of, Collingwood looks dangerous - after them??????

 

[donnie5]

Mike Sheanan = C*** Sucker!

 

[smiddaz123]

I've read it three times, and I'm still trying to work out why they bothered publishing it...

Rocca has possessed eltie attributes, but has never been an elite player overall.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

He has always had the physical attributes to land a regular spot on Sheahan's list, alongside fellow big forwards Jonathan Brown, Matthew Pavlich and Matthew Richardson.

This is the bit that stood out for me. It's practically self-refuting. Ant has never been as athletic as Brown, Pavlich, and Richo. He could probably match them all for power, and he would exceed Richo in terms of skill, but he's never been remotely at their level as an endurance athlete, and that's always been the biggest thing holding him back from elite status. Richo and Pavlich have both played as mids, and at his peak Brown covered a midfielder amount of ground too. Ant has never been in that bracket.

Don't buy that he's been overrated either. He's been a good to very good player over most of his career -- and I reckon that's how most Collingwood supporters see him.

 

[ButchEd8]

Mike Sheanan = C*** Sucker!

Trevor Grant wrote this article, but I agree about Sheahan.

 

[jonny_d4]

Rocca also played CHF delivering the ball to big sav for the first lets say 6-7 years of his career, stats aren't always a true indication of a players importance to a team... look at presti

 

[Pie eyed]

Rocca has been great for our club.
No matter what anyone likes to think I rate him as "the player most likely to get you excited" since he came to Collingwood.
Sure Bucks was a champion and took games by the throat, but Rocca is the guy who always made me smile the most.

His career is in it's twilight and soon we will have to say goodbye, but it is going to be a tearful farewell because we don't have a player with his presence to replace him and we may never see his kind again with the way the game is going.

Personally I still think he is very important to our side and hope we can squeeze this year and maybe another from the great man.

I will be flying in for his final game, no doubt about it, to thank him as personally as I can when he finally calls it a day.

Anthony Rocca you are a ****ing legend and I have enjoyed every minute of your career so far.......

 

[1eye]

So why was Rocca triple tagged in the 02 granny and when playing last year usually took the best defender? Not bad respect from opposition I'd say.

 

[Krueger]

We are an even team and dont rely on 1 gun forward to kick the majority of our goals. With Rocca playing we are a much better team - if anybody doubts that they should get their head examined. Hes only 31 FFS.

Wasnt Rocca the leagues leading contested marker in his last full year - 2007? They guy was injured last year, what do people expect from him?

Anthony Rocca should have been captain imo and would have been if last years injury wasnt hanging over his head.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Journos (that havn't been AFL players) don't know much about footy, simple as that.

 

[RRRooocccaaa]

If you show a player's average stats... they're going to look average.

Elite midfielders... pah! None of them have ever kicked a spine-tingling goal from the center square to bring 80,000 people to their feet. Big Ant has the big boots, the big pants and the big heart - the rest are just pretenders.

 

[bradrowe#32]

Rocca's first four seasons (1995 to 1998) weren't that impressive and three of his last five seasons have been ruined by injury.

On his day he was a genuine match-winner, who had the ability to kick 5+ goals. More importantly, he was able to create a contest and a presence few others in our team had.

While he might not be considered one of the game's champions, he's still had a better career than thousands of other players.

 

[Skade]

We are an even team and dont rely on 1 gun forward to kick the majority of our goals. With Rocca playing we are a much better team - if anybody doubts that they should get their head examined. Hes only 31 FFS.

Wasnt Rocca the leagues leading contested marker in his last full year - 2007? They guy was injured last year, what do people expect from him?

Anthony Rocca should have been captain imo and would have been if last years injury wasnt hanging over his head.

Also 2006, and kicked over 50 goals both years if my memory serves me correct.

 

[mattys123]

Anthony Rocca's problem has been pointed out many times as a mixture of injury and form slumps over his career. WRONG.

Big Ant's major problem is for 10 years now, he has had MM as coach. MM in his whole career, has never had a game plan that uses one player as a forward focus, if Anthony had of stayed at Sydney, he would have averaged over 3 goals a game as a permanent forward, but wouldnt have contributed as much as he has to us.

It also depends what you judge a players career on, stats, flags, finals, medals, etc etc.

I base Anthony Rocca's career on big games.

In big games, and by that I mean finals and a GF, Aanthony Rocca performed, and for that he will forever be remembered as a great servant of the Collingwood Football Club, no matter what the stats say.

 

[PieLebo87]

I'm loving all this Rocca-bashing by everyone because it'll only mean he'll release the beast within more enormously and demolish it for the Pies. You guys might think I'm joking, but I'm serious. Because of all this crap, he'll be reading it, and he'll come out at AFL level and absolutely destroy it to shut them up.

 

[Subtemperate]

Big Ant's major problem is for 10 years now, he has had MM as coach. MM in his whole career, has never had a game plan that uses one player as a forward focus,

Peter Sumich begs to differ...

 

[Dave The Man]

Rocca was the Main Reason(Accpet for Buckly) we made those GF in 02-03 without Rocaa we would of been where we are at now a 4-8 Side

 

[shawthing09]

It is very easy to find stats to back up a bias arguement. As had been pointed out by others Rocca has never had the endurance to cover the ground and rack up as many easy marks and kicks as the others. Most of his career he played as a CHF in a different mould to the others though. He wasn't a huge possie gathering wing / chf.

I'd say the stats that back up Collingwood fans rating of him are both the contested marking stats and the goal assit stats. Whilst playing CHF Rocca may not have had huge 20 disposal 15 mark 3 goal games like a Pav, Brown or Riewoldt will have. He would however make almost every kick count his kick to goal / goal assit ratio would be amongst the best in the league. He made others around him better both with the quality of his delivery into the 50, his ability to draw defenders and create space for the other fowards and his ability to create a spillage by creating a contest where other fowards probably wouldn't.

Of course there are flaws in his game and that lack of endurance means over the course of the year he wasn't collecting as many easy possies, but stats don't tell the whole story.

 

[Old Spice]

We all know Anthony is not an athletic forward. It's no use Trevor comparing apples to oranges and then coming up with a lemon conclusion.

I could make Presti look like a pile if I compared him to Jordan McMahon and Chadwick but Rocca plays a very different and important role in our structure, like Presti.

By his last good season, Rocca was the AFL champion of contested marks and creates opportunities in the forward line which are not duly recorded in the stat sheet.

How is it that Rocca suddenly finds his stocks plummeting without having played a game fully fit for a while? I can understand if Grant said after Anthony came back fully fit after 3 games and bombed, but the man is injured still so why wasn't this article written a while back?

 

[Pie eyed]

We all know Anthony is not an athletic forward. It's no use Trevor comparing apples to oranges and then coming up with a lemon conclusion.

I could make Presti look like a pile if I compared him to Jordan McMahon and Chadwick but Rocca plays a very different and important role in our structure, like Presti.

By his last good season, Rocca was the AFL champion of contested marks and creates opportunities in the forward line which are not duly recorded in the stat sheet.

How is it that Rocca suddenly finds his stocks plummeting without having played a game fully fit for a while? I can understand if Grant said after Anthony came back fully fit after 3 games and bombed, but the man is injured still so why wasn't this article written a while back?

Trevor?....first name basis now....lol.

I think Trevor had a few inches of column space to fill and stumbled across the story that he (Rocca not Trevor) might start in the VFL this week.
With every other Collingwood angle, the Coach, the Pres and the Potential of the side, being covered it was time to start on the players who have not played.

Rusling will be next as some other "hard up for print" journo cottons on to Trev's obvious error in not mentioning him allowing a segway to next weeks column.

 

[Snag Breac]

Trevor?....first name basis now....lol.

I think Trevor had a few inches of column space to fill and stumbled across the story that he (Rocca not Trevor) might start in the VFL this week.
With every other Collingwood angle, the Coach, the Pres and the Potential of the side, being covered it was time to start on the players who have not played.

Rusling will be next as some other "hard up for print" journo cottons on to Trev's obvious error in not mentioning him allowing a segway to next weeks column.

Or it's Get Anthony Rocca Week? Apparently Grant Thomas (?) was on SEN saying that the Pies depend on Rocca too much, which is just ignorant, given our stellar forward options.

I'm disgusted with all these media maggots wriggling around in his shadow. I am seriously displeased.

 

[Porkaspies09]

anthony rocca kicked probly the most uplifting goal ive ever seen against the crows in 2002 final, i dont think he is shit , i think he is dangerous when playing his best , i think he will get back on track and be kicking bags of goals again but i do think it will be his last year , watch him this year he will be dangerous
GO ROCCA AND THE PIES IN 09

 

[Pie eyed]

Or it's Get Anthony Rocca Week? Apparently Grant Thomas (?) was on SEN saying that the Pies depend on Rocca too much, which is just ignorant, given our stellar forward options.

I'm disgusted with all these media maggots wriggling around in his shadow. I am seriously displeased.

A very "tactile" comment...lol
I can almost smell them.