Saverio Rocca
Rocca at Redskins training camp in 2012.
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| No. 6 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | 20 November 1973 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Punts: | 517 |
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| Punt yards: | 22,169 |
| Punting yard average: | 42.9 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
| Saverio Rocca | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Original team(s) | Reservoir-Lakeside | ||
| Debut | Round 14, 1992, Collingwood vs. Footscray, at the MCG |
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| Position(s) | Full-forward/Centre half-forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1992–1997 | Collingwood | 156 (514) | |
| Kangaroos | 101 (234) | ||
| Total | 257 (748) | ||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997.
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| Career highlights | |||
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Saverio Giovanni "Sav" Rocca (born 20 November 1973) is an Australian retired American football punter. He made his NFL debut playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He began his professional sporting career playing Australian rules football for Collingwood and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League.
He is one of the few players who have converted from professional Australian rules football to professional American football. During his time in the Australian Football League, he became one of the most successful goalkickers in the history of the competition. In a career which spanned 14 years, he ranked 13th in the all-time goalscoring record. While he averaged just under three goals a game, he was noted more for his ability to kick accurately from great distances which ultimately led to his trial for the Eagles.
When he converted to American football, he made history as the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL, taking the mantle from fellow Australian Ben Graham.
Rocca was born in Melbourne to Italian parents. He began his sporting life in athletics, coached by George Bertolacci he was a junior champion in shot put and also the discus.
Rocca decided to focus on Australian rules and after several seasons playing for Reservoir-Lakeside Football Club in the Diamond Valley Football League, his goalkicking talent became obvious.
Rocca joined Collingwood in 1991, the last year that allowed zoned players to avoid the draft process. He was a strong full-forward with a huge kick, showing true signs as a key player to the Magpies in his debut season of 1992. In 1993, he quickly got the attention from the crowds, kicking 73 goals including two hauls of ten goals in a matter of three weeks. In 1994, he kicked 49 goals.
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