WHAT better way to repay the faith than kick 10 goals. After all, Australian football is what makes Isaac Rokeby tick and goals are his currency.
The 17-year-old lives in Cairns now, but he grew up in Coen and Lockhart River, in the depths of Cape York.
"I miss my family and home sometimes, but as soon as I get out there on the field I feel good again," Rokeby enthused.
It hasn't been all smooth sailing and bagfuls of goals, though.
By his own admission, he "bunged up" when he first moved down and started attending Djarragun College.
But Rokeby says he has learned his lesson since being afforded another chance at Trinity Bay.
"I got in a bit of trouble, but I've given my word to my family I would do as well as I could from now on," he said. "And right now, I'm just having fun playing footy and trying to do well at school."
The crumbing forward achieved the goalkicking haul – it would have been 11 if his one behind hadn't shaved the post – for North Cairns in their defeat of Cairns City last weekend.
It's the first time a teenager has kicked 10 in a senior competition for as long as anyone can remember.
And he did it in his trademark Aboriginal flag boots.
"They're my good luck charm now," Rokeby said.
The player himself admitted he had found the zone.
"I just felt so good, everything was sweet off my boot; I was in the mood to play on the day," he said.
"Lions are a good side, they have some tough players, but I just kept crumbing and I took a few good marks as well."
Rokeby has been representing his new school at the North Queensland Secondary Schools Cup.
Thirteen teams, including four girls teams, from Tropical Queensland, have contested a round-robin series, with the grand final before the AFL game at Cazalys (1.15pm).
Last Modified on 25/09/2012 10:27