FOLLOWING a breakout year for the Double Blues, top-age wing Summer Ross grabbed her opportunity with the South Australian Under 18 Girls program over the summer. The Sturt junior has always been on the precipice of breaking through in one squad or another, but once she gained the chance at the Double Blues, Ross showed what she could do on the big stage.
We spoke to Ross at the recent South Australian Preseason Testing Day.
Q: Summer, you’ve come into the South Australian Under 18 Girls Academy this yhear, that must be a bit of a buzz?
SR: “I was so happy, it’s been a goal of mine for ages to get into one of the Academy programs because I didn’t make 16s or 18s last year, so I was really, really happy and it’s been a really good experience so far.”
Q: What do you think you changed or what happened that got you into the program?
SR: “I think mainly just getting some people to view me playing Sturt for my first year, just getting my name out there helped. Also I think my game from preseason I really worked really hard and that last preseason from last year I improved so much so I think that really helped me.”
Q: What did your footy journey all begin and the pathway you took?
SR: “I started playing footy when I was 11 for the Blackwood Football Club. I played there throughout all my juniors, since last year as well and then I think when I was about 14 I got asked out to Sturt junior trials. Got into that, then did about three years of Sturt juniors playing Under 14s, 15s and 17s programs. I was also involved in the Crows Academy Under 15s squad which was really good, and then I did the Aish Academy. Michael Aish I had him coaching me, that helped me so much as a player.
“Then my first opportunity to get into the women’s program I didn’t make, but I got in as a train-on player so I was training with them once a week which really helped me progress with my fitness and everything like that, and working against bigger bodies because I had never really been exposed to senior footy before, and then the next year I got into the women’s program, had my first preseason with them and went straight into playing League. It was lots of big jumps of progression for me so it was good.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
SR: “My main thing would be my speed and endurance. I play on the wing so I think speed’s really important for that and it’s something I’ve been working on. I also think my ability to hit targets is also really strong, and then also playing wing or forward making an impact on the scoring side of things, I find when given the opportunity, I’m pretty good at kicking goals. So just like speed, decision making and endurance as well to keep running throughout a game.”
Q: What about improvements you’re looking to make?
SR: “Probably just my strength around contest, whether that’s like groundballs or aerial contests. I think that’s where I’m lacking a little bit, I’ve been working really hard on it over preseason, but I think being a bit of a smaller body against bigger bodies, I get like… not nervous, but coming into a contest is something I’m trying to work on at the moment, improving my drive through a contest. Then also having strength up in the air as well.”
Q: Going forward, what goals have you set for yourself this year?
SR: “Well my biggest goal is to make the state team, so just working really hard in all the combine testing to make sure I’m at the top of those lists, that’s definitely my main goal. Then I just want to be a player for my team who has an impact on the game, I’m not just there to fill a position. I’m someone that people rely on to help us win and things like that. I just want to be more confident and have a really consistent and strong year.
Q: What club do you support?
SR: “Port.”
Q: Is there a player you look up to or model your game on?
SR: “A player I look up to, I know she hasn’t started playing yet but India Rasheed. I have trained with her the past two years at Sturt and she’s not only an amazing teammate but she’s just the hardest worker I literally know, so I look up to her heaps with her drive and everything like that. She’s someone I aspire to be like, and I know she hasn’t had a crack to play AFLW yet, but I know she’s going to have a really strong year I bet.
Q: Just finally, who’s someone who’s had the most individual influence on your career?
SR: “My dad. I think he has pushed me so much. Obviously I’ve had some really amazing coaches like Michael Aish and O’Co (Michael O’Connor) from Sturt. But I think my dad’s the one, he’s put in so much time and effort help me be the best I can be, and he always gives me so much support and I couldn’t have done any of this without him so definitely my dad.”
