1. Anthony Rocca was born on 15 August 1977 and is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League.
18 Facts About Anthony Rocca
1. 2.
Anthony Rocca was rated very highly as a youngster and was selected with the second overall pick in the 1994 AFL Draft by the Sydney Swans.
3.
Anthony Rocca was reportedly homesick during his time at the Swans.
4.
Anthony Rocca was traded for fellow 1994 draftee full forward Ben Wilson, Mark Orchard and Collingwood's first two draft selections.
5.
Anthony Rocca made a name for himself as a strong forward, with a booming 70+ metre kick, just like his brother.
6.
However, unlike his brother, Anthony Rocca was used in the ruck.
7.
In 2003, with the Magpies again facing Brisbane in the Grand Final, Anthony Rocca was suspended in the Preliminary Final against Port Adelaide, shattering his dream of playing in another Grand Final.
8.
The decision by Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson to play Dawson on the much stronger and athletic Anthony Rocca was heavily criticised in the media.
9.
Anthony Rocca spoke out on this and was quoted as saying "he has to learn".
10.
Anthony Rocca kicked a career best season return of 55 goals and was the club's leading goalkicker for the third time.
11.
Anthony Rocca 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.
12.
In round 22, Anthony Rocca played against his brother, Saverio, for Sav's farewell game before heading to the United States to become a gridiron punter.
13.
Anthony Rocca spent much of the first half of 2009 in the reserves, having been dropped from the senior side due to poor form and injury.
14.
However Anthony 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.
15.
Anthony Rocca finished his AFL career with 242 games and 415 goals.
16.
In early January 2011, Anthony Rocca took up the job of assistant coach of the Magpies' VFL team alongside its new coach Tarkyn Lockyer.
17.
Anthony Rocca became North Melbourne's development coach on 20 January 2021.
18.
Anthony Rocca is married to Enza Colosimo and has a daughter, Mia, and a son, Max.