The Australian sportsman who conquered two different football worlds
In short: Sav Rocca achieved what few athletes ever dream of: a successful transition from Australian rules football to the NFL. After a prolific career in the AFL, the Melbourne native moved to the United States to become a professional punter, making history as the oldest rookie in the league's history.
Born in Melbourne to Italian parents, Rocca's sporting journey began with athletics, where he was a junior champion in shot put and discus. He eventually focused on Australian rules football, joining Collingwood in 1991. His talent was immediately evident; in 1993, he kicked 73 goals, including two instances of kicking ten goals in just three weeks. His peak performance came in 1995, when he kicked 93 goals in 21 games, earning the Copeland Trophy as Collingwood's best and fairest player. He holds the distinction of being the seventeenth highest goalscorer in the history of the league. Furthermore, he was the club's top goalkicker on ten separate occasions.
After being delisted by Collingwood, Rocca joined the North Melbourne Kangaroos in 2000. He became a vital part of their lineup, reaching his 700th goal in 2005 and his 250th game in early 2006. At age 32, rather than retiring, he pivoted to American football. After a trial, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007, becoming the oldest rookie in NFL history, surpassing the previous record held by fellow Australian Ben Graham. His transition was marked by a significant kicking range that caught the attention of American scouts. This move allowed him to break the record previously held by another Australian athlete.
Rocca's NFL career spanned several seasons with the Eagles and the Washington Redskins. During his 2007 rookie season, he recorded 73 punts for 3,066 net yards. He continued to play for the Redskins until 2014, notably playing through a torn meniscus in 2012. After retiring from professional play, he moved back to Australia, coaching ruck and kicking for the Carlton Football Club between 2015 and 2020. His tenure in Washington concluded at the end of the 2014 season. Following his playing days, he served as a forwards mentor for various players at Carlton.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sav Rocca
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