The pair have quickly established themselves in the Lions’ side this year after getting a taste of AFL football last year.
Rockliff played just the one match last season while Redden managed 10, including the Lions’ two finals.
The pair have gradually progressed together since arriving at the Lions in 2008 and, as it turns out, Redden has managed to score his own Rising Star nomination just two weeks after his housemate.
But there was no household rivalry for the nomination; in fact Redden said it was not even a goal of his at the start of the season.
“It was more just to play consistent footy in the seniors. Late last year I finished off playing the season in the ones. My main focus for 2010 was to play consistent senior footy,” Redden said.
For the record, Redden has tipped Rockliff to take the award at seasons’ end.
But Redden could be mounting a fair case for himself. He has played all 15 games this season and managed 22 disposals in the Lions narrow loss to St Kilda on Saturday night.
He admits at being awestruck by the reigning grand finalists.
“It was pretty intimidating. We knew how good form they were in. And with our recent form we knew we were going to have to play our roles as well as we could,” he said
“I had Jarryn Geary on the wing for a little bit and Jason Gram late in the game. It does give me confidence to know I can play against them. You know where you stand.”
Redden said his taste of senior footy last year gave him an appreciation of the work that was needed to become a regular AFL footballer, which he took in to pre-season.
“My main focus was that how much bigger the bodies are and how quickly the ball moves around the footy. My main focus was to build up in the gym so I could stand up for myself in different situations. I put on about six kilos over summer,” he said.
Redden, Rockliff and Todd Banfield have all received nominations this season, following on from Daniel Rich’s NAB AFL Rising Star win last year.
Redden says the Lion cubs are determined to forge a successful future for the club.
“I reckon it’s a good crop coming through. There are a few more players coming through and there are definitely good times for the future of the club,” he said.
“The young blokes have got a good bond together. That helps as well. Pretty much all of us come from interstate and we see each other every day. It’s hard to avoid each other.”
Redden is a native South Australian but he says there is no danger of being lured back home by either the Crows or the Power. In fact he has already dealt with the move from home a couple of years before he was even drafted, having moved from country town Keith as a 15-year-old.
“I went to an Adelaide boarding school. I only lived there for two years. I wasn’t too fussed with the move to Queensland so it ended up alright.”
