The Celtic star whose call-up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup caused plenty of angst in the green half of Glasgow went missing and was conspicuous by his 'absence' in Australia's opening 1-0 defeat to Jordan in Group B in Al Ain.
The Socceroos played one of their worst and most frustrating matches in months and the gritty Jordanians were full value for an unexpected victory that puts Graham Arnold's men under pressure to reach the last 16 phase.
Rogic was seen as the man who could make the difference to an injury-hit side due to his special qualities that have wooed the faithful at Parkhead.
But Al Ain would be a paradise lost for Rogic.
The Socceroos were struggling to break down the well organised opposition and needed somebody to lead by example but for all he produced in an eminently forgettable afternoon Rogic could well have stayed in Glasgow.
He looked lethargic, he lacked ideas when on the ball, his passing was often erratic and his shooting was way off the mark.
He even managed to sky a ball with his left foot when it looked like it was easier to score than miss from four metres out.
Arnold is one of Rogic's biggest fans but the time has come for the coach to bite the bullet and examine whether Rogic is all that he is cracked up to be in terms of his contribution to the green and gold jersey and whether someone like Jackson Irvine, who is less gifted but physically and temperamentally superior, would be a better alternative as a starter.
Rogic no doubt has the skills and he can be an absolute joy to watch when in full flight with the ball at his feet but he produces the numbers of high class too infrequently to be of constant value to the team.
This is not the first time Rogic played poorly for Australia but we always tend to be mesmerised by his strengths and dismiss his weaknesses as aberrations. But it now might be a case of enough is enough.
It is probably rather churlish to make Rogic the scapegoat for a bad defeat, especially when you remember that playing with inferior players to the ones he is used to playing with in Scotland does not help his game.
But as one of the most experienced players in the squad it is not unreasonable for fans to expect something special from him and feel let down when he does not provide it, let alone perform abysmally as he did against Jordan.
The whole team were terrible as a unit even though they had lots of ball in the second half.
However possession means nothing if you do not do much with it.
The Socceroos created a few semi-decent scoring chances mainly through young striker Awer Mabil but Jordan were probably just as dangerous in their fewer attacks.
Arnold's attempt to have an interchangeable attack comprising three forwards did not work because the team lacked width and when Australia did widen their attack with a few meaningful forays from fullbacks Aziz Behich and substitute Rhyan Grant, the team looked slightly better without actually being all that dangerous.
Essentially because Arnold has not solved the major problem he inherited since taking up the position after the 2018 FIFA World Cup: an inability to stick the ball in the net. The Socceroos are like toothless tigers.
Scoring goals is still Australia's Achilles heel, as was seen very clearly in Al Ain.
Arnold has a lot of work to do before the Socceroos take on Palestine in Dubai on 11 January.
