After 15 seasons of AFL Football, Collingwood veteran player Anthony Rocca has announced his retirement at the age of 32 and after a total of 242 games with Collingwood and Sydney.
Anthony Rocca addressed the Collingwood Football Club of his decision including team mates earlier today at the Lexus Centre. Rocca said that he was extremely proud of what he has achieved throughout his 15 season AFL career and thankful for the opportunity to play alongside such great players. He said “Beginning in Sydney and playing alongside men the calibre of Paul Kelly, Tony Lockett, Paul Roos and Michael O’Loughlin was a huge privilege. Then to move to Collingwood and be alongside the likes of Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, Gavin Brown, Graham Wright and particularly my brother Saverio, I am very fortunate.”
He said playing alongside his brother at Collingwood was a massive career highlight that he will always cherish. He also listed the 2002 Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions as a highlight, but also as a lowlight (because of the tight 9 point loss), however he will always remember it. Another highlight for him was all his career milestone matches, he said that he did not every think he would reach 200 games, and being able to play 242 was a huge bonus.
When asked about his life post football, Rocca said he was looking forward to it, and that he wanted to take some time off. He said first of all, he would like to take a holiday and visit his brother in the United States. He also stated that he was “keen to try and get into the punting scene in the NFL”, and that he will try his best to get a job in that arena, but if not he “wouldn’t mind doing some sort of part-time coaching role in the AFL”. He said he would absolutely love to stay at Collingwood because he loves it and that “it would be good to work behind the scenes”.
Rocca thanked both Collingwood and Sydney for the chances they had taken with him “I would like to thank the Collingwood Football Club for allowing me to have had the career I’ve had, and the Sydney Swans for giving me the opportunity to play AFL football, I’m very grateful.” He also thanked the Pies support staff, administration, all the coaches he had worked with and in particular Mick Malthouse “who has had a profound influence on [my] career”. He also thanks his family, especially his wife, his daughter and his parents, who have been solid supporters through both good and bad times.
Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse said that both he and the club were extremely proud of his career. He said that he thought that Rocca was one of the most courageous players that he had ever coached. Mick said that he hoped that Rocca could come back in some way and help out at the Magpies if he wanted to.
Anthony Rocca was drafted in the 1994 AFL Draft by the Sydney Swans with the second round picks (a priority selection) and had his debut game was in Round 8, 1995 against Carlton.
After 2 seasons and 22 games with the Sydney Swans, Rocca he requested to be traded to Collingwood to play alongside his brother Saverio Rocca. This trade was made and he was traded for Ben Wilson, Mark Orchard and the no. 14 and no. 33 draft choices at the end of 1996.
He played his first game for Collingwood in Round 1 1997 against Port Adelaide, and established himself in the AFL as one of the most dangerous key forwards and extremely valuable and important to the Magpies.
His last AFL match was against St.Kilda this year in the Magpies Qualifying Final loss. It was his 4th senior match for the 2009 season, due to an ankle injury and achilles problem that prohibited him from playing more.
In his 15 season career Anthony Rocca was able to achieve the following:
- Four time winner of the Gordon Coventry Trophy for being the Magpies’ leading goal kicker (2000, ’02, ’06, ’07)
- Winner of the RT Rush Trophy as runner-up in the Copeland Trophy (Collingwood’s best and fairest) in 1999.
- Winner of the Darren Millane Trophy as best clubman in 2002.
- 22 games with the Sydney Swans and 220 games with the Collingwood Magpies (having only 16 more men in history having played more games with the Pies).
- 11 goals with the Swans and 404 goals with the Pies (which allows him to sit 8th on the all time Collingwood Goal kicking list).
- Played 10 finals with Collingwood, including the 2002 Grand Final where he kicked four of the team’s nine goals and was one of the Magpies’ best in the 9 point loss to the Lions.
- Overall his career tally is 442 games and 415 goals with both Collingwood and Sydney.
Tags: Anthony Rocca, Mick Malthouse
Stay Up-to-date
Never miss a big story again by subscribing to us by RSS, email or twitter.
