Rocca tips Ben for Pies leadership
January 18th 2007 10:23
Rocca tips Ben for Pies leadership
18 January 2007 Herald-Sun
Damian Barrett
BEN Johnson a future Collingwood captain? Don't laugh -- Anthony Rocca reckons it's a strong possibility.
Johnson, who made the papers last year for reasons that showed anything but club leadership, should spend 2007 positioning himself as a candidate to take over from Nathan Buckley, according to the veteran forward.
Rocca has revealed he vacated the Collingwood vice-captaincy in the hope of providing leadership opportunities for Johnson, Josh Fraser and Tarkyn Lockyer.
"There is a process to go through and Jimmy (Clement) would probably be the best one to take it after Bucks, but I would really love to see someone come through," Rocca said.
"That's why I have stepped away. I want to step back and let others take over.
"My belief is someone young comes through and has it for a while. I'd love to see Josh Fraser do it, but I don't know if he would want to do it.
"Josh could do it. Jimmy could do it. I think Ben Johnson could do it.
"The public don't see what we see. A lot of people would see a different side of Ben Johnson, like the troubled side with what he has done in the past.
"What we see in the club is totally different. We see a leader. He voices his opinions and the way he goes about things is exceptional."
Rocca's endorsement of Johnson as a potential Magpies captain is significant, as it comes after the 25-year-old put his position with the club in jeopardy following an involvement in an early-morning brawl outside a nightclub.
Collingwood revealed its true thoughts on the seriousness of the incident when it subsequently traded Chris Tarrant, Johnson's drinking partner on that July morning.
Rocca said he was sorry to see Tarrant depart, but that the message Collingwood sent in parting with the key forward was important.
"Everyone is aware Chris has had his indiscretions over the past few years, and it just goes to show that no one is bigger," Rocca said.
"He did everything right on the field, worked his butt off on game day and was one of the hardest trainers.
"But it goes to show if you have a couple of indiscretions off the field over a period of time, the team and the club can get frustrated.
"You can't let it slide over and over again."
Tarrant's exit will leave Collingwood without one of the competition's hardest-working forwards.
"And that's going to be interesting," Rocca said.
"But there have been games in the past where we have played without each other and done all right.
"I am going to have to step up, as will Travis Cloke and Sean Rusling."
Rocca, a recent recipient of Collingwood life membership, said he had completed "95 per cent" of the Magpies' main group drills in the pre-season.
He said he was confident of building a fitness base for 2007 that would eliminate the fade-out he experienced last year.
18 January 2007 Herald-Sun
Damian Barrett
BEN Johnson a future Collingwood captain? Don't laugh -- Anthony Rocca reckons it's a strong possibility.
Johnson, who made the papers last year for reasons that showed anything but club leadership, should spend 2007 positioning himself as a candidate to take over from Nathan Buckley, according to the veteran forward.
Rocca has revealed he vacated the Collingwood vice-captaincy in the hope of providing leadership opportunities for Johnson, Josh Fraser and Tarkyn Lockyer.
"There is a process to go through and Jimmy (Clement) would probably be the best one to take it after Bucks, but I would really love to see someone come through," Rocca said.
"That's why I have stepped away. I want to step back and let others take over.
"My belief is someone young comes through and has it for a while. I'd love to see Josh Fraser do it, but I don't know if he would want to do it.
"Josh could do it. Jimmy could do it. I think Ben Johnson could do it.
"The public don't see what we see. A lot of people would see a different side of Ben Johnson, like the troubled side with what he has done in the past.
"What we see in the club is totally different. We see a leader. He voices his opinions and the way he goes about things is exceptional."
Rocca's endorsement of Johnson as a potential Magpies captain is significant, as it comes after the 25-year-old put his position with the club in jeopardy following an involvement in an early-morning brawl outside a nightclub.
Collingwood revealed its true thoughts on the seriousness of the incident when it subsequently traded Chris Tarrant, Johnson's drinking partner on that July morning.
Rocca said he was sorry to see Tarrant depart, but that the message Collingwood sent in parting with the key forward was important.
"Everyone is aware Chris has had his indiscretions over the past few years, and it just goes to show that no one is bigger," Rocca said.
"He did everything right on the field, worked his butt off on game day and was one of the hardest trainers.
"But it goes to show if you have a couple of indiscretions off the field over a period of time, the team and the club can get frustrated.
"You can't let it slide over and over again."
Tarrant's exit will leave Collingwood without one of the competition's hardest-working forwards.
"And that's going to be interesting," Rocca said.
"But there have been games in the past where we have played without each other and done all right.
"I am going to have to step up, as will Travis Cloke and Sean Rusling."
Rocca, a recent recipient of Collingwood life membership, said he had completed "95 per cent" of the Magpies' main group drills in the pre-season.
He said he was confident of building a fitness base for 2007 that would eliminate the fade-out he experienced last year.
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Comment by Joe Blogg
Joe Blogg's Blog
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It's been a while since Gary Hocking gave up that honour.