Rockliff dreams of being ‘Lion for life’

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BRISBANE vice-captain Tom Rockliff dreams of being a "Lion for life' and captaining the club after signing a rich three-year contract extension yesterday.

Rockliff will remain at the Gabba until the end of 2017 on a deal understood to be worth almost $2 million as Brisbane's re-signing rampage continued yesterday.

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Small forward Josh Green also recommitted to the Lions on a two-year-deal to follow midfielder Jack Redden's new two-year contract on Tuesday. Boom teenager Sam Mayes signed a two-year deal late last month.

The mass show of faith in the club's future is a timely boost before Brisbane's opening clash with premiers Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.

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"I'd love to stay a Lion for life,'' Rockliff said.

"There are no certainties in life but at this stage I can't seeing myself ever leaving. I love the club and I love the direction it is heading in.

"We've got a great core of players coming through together who have committed to the club.

Tom Rockliff at Lions training. Picture by Darren England. Source: News Corp Australia

"We have played a lot of football together, we have a good understanding and I feel like we can enjoy some success.

"Hopefully one day, I'll get the opportunity to be captain of the club. Jed (Adcock) does a wonderful job as captain and I'd love the chance to take on that responsibility down the track.

"Right now the focus is on getting the game plan right and getting our consistency going.

"We were only a couple of kicks from making the finals last year so who knows what we can do this year. It will be challenging but we are up for it.''

Rockliff, the 2011 Lions club champion, was heavily courted by the cashed-up Melbourne in the off-season but chose to stay loyal to the Lions who gave him a shot in the big time through the 2009 pre-season draft.

Josh Green signed a new two-year contract today. Picture Darren England. Source: News Limited

Rockliff trained with the Demons in late 2008 but Melbourne chose not to recruit him.

Their loss has been Brisbane's gain, with the Benalla ball-magnet playing 83 senior matches for the Lions since his AFL debut in 2009.

"There was a fair bit happening at the end of last year but Brisbane have really looked after me over the years and it was an easy decision to stay. It's definitely in my best interests,'' Rockliff said.

The 24-year-old finished sixth in last year's Brownlow Medal count, seven votes behind winner Gary Ablett after a blistering finish to the season.

The contract extension is a reward for his maturity as a leader and development as an elite midfielder.

Brisbane may have suffered a major blow with the loss of the "Go Home Five'' over summer but since last March, when Daniel Merrett recommitted to the club, the Lions have re-signed 15 players including Pearce Hanley, Daniel Rich, Matthew Leuenberger, Dayne Zorko, Joel Patfull, Rockliff, Mayes, Redden and Green.

Meanwhile, Queenslander David Hale has re-signed at Hawthorn until the end of next season.

The Broadbeach product was an integral part of Hawthorn's premiership last year, playing as a key forward or ruckman.

With the departure of Lance Franklin to Sydney and the arrival of former St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy, the 29-year-old will be just as important to the Hawks' bid for successive flags.

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