Anthony Rocca

Sydney

Of Italian descent, Rocca is the younger brother of former Australian rules footballer and former teammate Saverio Rocca (who formerly played for the Washington Redskins in the NFL). Known as a family man, Anthony was rated highly as a youngster and was selected with the second overall pick in the 1994 AFL Draft by the Sydney Swans. A lifelong Collingwood supporter (hailing from the Reservoir area, an area in the Collingwood supporter base's heartland), Rocca has said in recent interviews that at the time he was at Sydney his heart was not completely in it and he was homesick.

Collingwood

After two seasons at the Swans, Rocca was traded to his preferred home, Collingwood. Rocca was traded for fellow 1994 draftee full forward Ben Wilson, Mark Orchard and Collingwood's first two draft selections. The trade was controversially allowed to be submitted almost three hours after the trading deadline, as Wilson and Orchard were holidaying in Mauritius and were unable to be contacted in time. He made a name for himself as a strong forward, with a booming 70+ metre kick, just like his brother. However, unlike his brother, Anthony was used also in the ruck. His importance to the Magpies forward structure was crucial, and he led the team's goalkicking, albeit with 38 goals in the year his team made a Grand Final in 2002. In 2003, with the Magpies again facing Brisbane in the Grand Final, Rocca was suspended in the Preliminary Final against Port Adelaide, shattering his dream of playing in another Grand Final. Without Rocca, the Magpies forward line structure was completely changed from the one that had been so successful throughout 2003, and by coincidence or not, Collingwood lost the match by a whopping 50 points.

In 2004 he missed 7 matches with injuries, and fared even worse in 2005, snapping an achilles tendon during the Round 4 clash against the Kangaroos, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

During the 2006 season Rocca returned to the side and proved important to the Magpies' structure up forward. In the Round 2 match against Hawthorn he booted 8 goals against unheralded young defender Zac Dawson. The decision by Hawks coach Alistair Clarkson to play Dawson on the much stronger and athletic Rocca was heavily criticised in the media. Rocca spoke out on this and was quoted as saying "he has to learn". He kicked a career best season return of 55 goals and was the club's leading goalkicker for the third time. His first half of the season was fantastic, while he struggled in the second half. He made the news in the Round 16 clash against the West Coast Eagles where he had shown the ball to umpire Hayden Kennedy, while walking off his mark, after Rocca turned-over a free kick, after a mistake by Kennedy minutes before. In round 22, Anthony played against his brother, Saverio, for Sav's farewell game before heading to the United States to become a gridiron punter.

Rocca's 2008 season was highlighted by mixed form and inconsistency.

He spent much of the first half of 2009 in the reserves, having been dropped from the senior side due to poor form and injury. With the continued rise of Travis Cloke and Jack Anthony, there was media speculation as to whether Rocca was needed in the senior side and some speculated that at his age he may never return. However Rocca answered his critics with some impressive form in the reserves earning a return in round 4 against the Brisbane Lions, in which he had a solid match up forward.

Retirement

Anthony Rocca announced his retirement on 21 September 2009. Rocca finished his AFL career with 242 games and 415 goals.

In early January 2011, Rocca took up the job of assistant coach of the Magpies' VFL team alongside its new coach Tarkyn Lockyer.

At the end of 2010 Rocca was promoted to Collingwood's defensive development coach, working under Craig McRae.

Personal life

Rocca is married to Enza Colosimo and has a daughter, Mia, and a son, Max.