SETTING her sights on following in the footsteps of her older sister, Abbie, West Adelaide’s Ruby Ballard is determined to forge her own journey, coming into 2024 as a top-age AFLW Draft prospect. We spoke to her at the South Australian Preseason Testing Day.
Q: Ruby, tell us about your footy journey?
RB: “I started off when I was about 13. I started playing with the boys down at Peak. Then I did that for a year, but then because of Covid there wasn’t any comp, so I moved to another boys club for two years at Imps in Murray Bridge. Came to Westies and I’d been doing Westies and then I did a year at Mitcham while in the off-season of Westies so been doing that, I think it’s going to be my third season.”
Q: What was it like representing your state at the national carnival?
RB: “That was awesome. It was a completely new experience. You’re playing with athletes who are all about the same level and playing against really good athletes that are higher or the same level so that was really good.”
Q: What do you see as your best position?
RB: “Probably like a high small forward, just there to get the crumbs off the ground and handball out or kick it in down long.”
Q: What influence has your siste had on you going through the same pathway?
RB: “She got me started into footy so obviously when I started that was a big influence. Teaching me everything, knowing all the skills, she’s been out helping me all the time progressively helping me get better at the skills, so she’s had a huge impact.”
Q: How do you compare your game to hers in terms of your similarities and differences?
RB: “We’re both short and agile so I guess we both like getting in and under, both love tackling and the aggression game which is what we’re pretty similar at. She’s a bigger body, better with her bodywork and aerial balls.”
Q: Presumably you barrack for Crows?
RB: “With the women’s I do. The men’s, Sydney Swans, I’ve always grown up going for them. My older brother used to, so I followed him and I knew Marty Mattner and his mum used to teach me. He played for the Swans so just loved them.”
Q: Who do you look up to the elite level?
RB: “My sister is one of the main ones and then Chelle (Rachelle) Martin. I’ve looked up to her quite a lot. Eloise Jones since she’s come played in the forwardline. I look up to them the most.”
Q: Who’s had the greatest influence on your career?
RB: “My sister. Huge impact influencing that.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself in 2024?
RB: “Obviously 2024 is my draft year so I’d love to get in the state team again and have a bigger role in that team and then hopefully my Westies season goes a bit better and … kick some more goals and then hopefully get drafted.”
Q: What do you see as your strengths on the field?
RB: “Probably getting down and handballing out, my clean hands. Tackling pressure.”
Q: What about your Improvements?
RB: “Definitely more of my tackling and picking up the ball and balancing before I kick, hitting my targets more accurately.”
Q: Over the off-season how have you found becoming one of the older and more experienced gialrs in the State Academy?
RB: “I feel like I’m still so young but I feel like it’s helped me get better in my fitness and do more skills work so I can be like a leader and have younger people look up to me and follow in my footsteps.”
