QUEENSLAND defender Siobhan Ross switched ends to become more of a permanent back in 2024, with the Southport top-ager making the change in order to add a point of difference behind the ball. The predominantly tall forward was one of a number of impressive players up that end of the ground for the Maroons, so Suns Academy coach Jess Sedunary spearheaded the choice to move.

“I spent most of my youth career as a forward up until the start of this year actually, I played a little bit in the backline throughout my youth career but mostly forward,” Ross said. “Jessica Sedunary, who coaches the Suns Academy thought it’d be good to change me from a forward to a defender which I was pretty up to. She did really well to transfer me into a defender.

“I didn’t want to just fall to the wayside and knowing that Queensland and the Suns didn’t have a lot of strong defenders, it was pretty good for me to make a name for myself in that position. “That’s why I was so up for it as well.”

Ross has taken on some huge roles throughout the course of the national carnival, as well as for the Suns Academy in the Coates Talent League Girls and Southport in the QAFLW. Having had that experience as a forward, Ross said she felt she had somewhat of an advantage when matching up on an opponent.

“Spending so much time as a forward you kind of know how they think as well so it’s a bit easier to play as a defender, you know what they do, what they’re thinking and all their tactics,” she said.

“It was at that time where I was transitioning into my fitness, and trying to find that high state of fitness. So to do that and learn a new position at the same time, It wasn’t that bad at all.”

Ross might be a rusted on Queenslander now, but the talented teenager started her journey over the other side of the country.

“I started in Perth, at a little club called Warwick Greenwood Knights,” Ross said. First, initially from school, my PE teacher thought I’d do pretty well in footy. Then I fell in love with it really, and gained a lot of friends through it.

“Went on to the little leagues, I played boys and girls until I was 14. Did pretty well there. I was about twelve or thirteen when I moved to Townsville and I continued there until I got to the Gold Coast.”

As for the cross-country switch, Ross said her parents serving in the armed forces dictated where they lived.

“Both my parents are in the army, [and have been] since I was born. Dad was a paramedic and my Mum was a PT, and because my Dad was a medic, we were moving around quite a lot,” she said. “I think I’ve been through like 12 schools, maybe 13. Because of that, I’ve grown to adapt to new places easily. Moving isn’t very daunting to me.”

It will be music to the ears for the 16 AFLW clubs outside of Queensland, with Ross having no qualms about moving. Especially given she still barracks for the West Coast Eagles in the men’s competition.

“I grew up supporting the West Coast Eagles because I started in Perth, I was about nine when I started,” Ross said. “I actually met a few of the West Coast players, Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey, I think Nic Natanui was there as well. I got a photo, it was pretty cool.

“I was just starting out then, so to have that exposure to them and to see them win it all in 2018, it made me fall in love with their team. “They’re not so great at the moment but it’s okay, still love them.”

As for a player she looks up to at the elite level, Ross said a culmination of competitors across both the men’s and women’s competitions really stood out to her.

“I have a lot of love for Josh Kennedy, I guess as a forward in my youth career I looked up to him a lot. Luke Shuey as well, loved him, but there are also players like Erin Phillips at Port Adelaide in the women’s. “Daisy Pearce, I love too. “Jack Darling is another. “I love all those guys.”

Looking at her own game, Ross bears plenty of vital defensive traits that standout from match to match, while she is looking to improve the precision on her kicking, as well as her composure and decision making.

“My pressure in the defensive-50 on my opponent definitely (is a strength of mine), my aerial contest whether that’s marking or spoiling,” Ross said. “Even for my height, I’m pretty good on the ground, I’m not afraid to get my nails dirty. And just going hard into the contest, putting my body on the line, I don’t really mind if I feel a bit sore afterwards.

“Accuracy when it comes to kicking, making the right decisions, especially quick decisions even though it’s hard to make the right one (are some improvements). But also trying not to rush myself, especially when I have time, try and use that to my advantage.

“I feel like sometimes I can get carried away and rush into the next thing. There’s always things you can improve on but when it comes to my skills as a player I feel pretty strong in every way.”

Ross has also been lucky enough to taste premiership success this year, running out with Southport and lifting the QAFLW premiership cup aloft.

“The Sharks are an amazing team, they’ve got some great players, great resources as well,” Ross said. “Especially in the backline, I had a lot of players I could learn off of, like I had Kaylee Kimber, Selina Priest as well.

“To have those people around you to learn off of, and especially at a time where I needed to learn was really great. Obviously a really successful team so to jump straight into that was pretty cool, and to get the premiership at the end of the year was great. Double premiership actually. Amazing year with them, I learnt a lot, and just a great bunch of girls.”