Rocca predicts big things from Cloke - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Rocca predicts big things from Cloke

By Jordan Chong 25/07/2007 03:49:49 PM Comments (0)

Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca reckons rising star Travis Cloke will be an even better footballer than his celebrated brother Saverio.

Saverio Rocca finished his career last year as the AFL's 12th best goalkicker with 748 goals from 257 games.

He played alongside Anthony at Collingwood for four seasons before switching to the Kangaroos.

Anthony also had Dockers forward Chris Tarrant as his forward line teammate for nine seasons and believes Cloke could be the best of the lot.

"I reckon Travis is a more rounded player," Rocca said.

"I believe Travis could be better than both of them if he sticks to it and keeps his head straight, which I know he will because he's a good kid.

"The sky's the limit for him, really."

The 20-year-old Cloke has played every game in 2007 - his third AFL season - for a return of 26 goals, including three last week in the win over Essendon.

Rocca said the pair's relationship on the field was just starting to hit its straps.

"Probably on the weekend was probably our best game (in terms of) not getting into each other's spot," Rocca said.

"We're two big men and we demand the footy as well. Travis is a fantastic player, his fitness is sensational, his hands are great. He's causing a bit of havoc for some defenders down there."

Rocca, 29, plays his 200th game in Collingwood colours this weekend when he faces the Brisbane Lions, their nemesis in the 2002 and 2003 grand finals.

He said the current team with its young up-and-coming players such as Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury had the same intensity but more talent than the 2002-03 outfits.

"They've surprised me a bit, I always expected they were going to be pretty good players but to come up this quick ...," Rocca said.

Rocca, who remains contracted to the end of next year, believed his body has at least two more years of football left in it.

He hopes to follow in Saverio's footsteps and pursue an career as an NFL punter once his days at Collingwood are over.

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