Former St Kilda and North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo has backed Tom Rockliff to recover from his slow start with Port Adelaide.
Rockliff has been taken out of the Power’s side this week, with the club saying he has a calf issue that he picked up in last week’s loss to Essendon.
The former Brisbane Lion captain is averaging just 12 disposals per game, his lowest since his rookie season, but Dal Santo says that shouldn’t spark cause for concern.
“Has that injury been lingering? We don’t know, they haven’t mentioned it prior,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“It does take a little bit of time for some players to adapt to a new club. I don’t see a great issue with it just yet.
“I actually thought the Rockliff pick up was really good.
“I thought he can work in with Robbie Gray, one can play as a deep forward and the other is on the ball. They will just complement each other and chop and change as they feel.
“From my experience changing clubs, I felt it took a 10-odd weeks to really get to know my teammates in game situations.
“It’s one thing to train with them for four-to-six months, but game scenarios are so different. To know where your teammate is, when you get the ball, when you don’t get the ball.
“It can take a little while, so I think we give 'Rocky' the benefit of the doubt at the moment. It will all work out okay.”
The Power takes on Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Listen to the best bits of this morning’s edition of SEN Breakfast with Jack Heverin, Nick Dal Santo and Danny Frawley in the player below