At a glance:

  • An honest Seb Ross says he's 'not a perfect footballer', even after his 2019 best-and-fairest campaign.
  • The dual Trevor Barker Award-winner opened up about how he's using his strengths to his advantage.
  • Ross is always on the hunt to improve aspects of his game, with his honesty laying the foundation for him piecing together more consistent and influential football.

“I’m nowhere near a perfect footballer.” 

Heading into a new season, we’re inundated by your classic footy clichés. This isn’t one of them. 

For Seb Ross, his open honesty and self-reflection following a diligent 2019 campaign is the foundation for him piecing together more consistent and influential football. 

READ: Ross honoured with Wimmera Grass Roots Award

Even after a best-and-fairest, stat-topping year served as stand-in skipper, the 26-year-old is always on the hunt to improve. 

And the self-aware Saint isn’t trying to create a brand new hand, but instead, reshuffle the existing deck. 

“No one’s perfect, and I’m nowhere near a perfect footballer,” Ross told SEN. 

You’ve got to learn to work with what you’ve got and learn to manipulate certain situations to your advantage.

- Seb Ross

“I’ve just got to swim between the flags I’ve got, because long kicking’s not one of them.” 

 

“I tended to kick them off my knee or shin a little bit because I was trying to boot the cover off it,” Ross said. 

I sat down with Brendon Lade and we worked out a way I could be more efficient for the team was to play within my realms.

- Seb Ross

“I’m a good short kick and it was beneficial for the team a lot of the time for me to hit those ones and keep the ball in possession.” 

The stats back it up.

STATE OF ORIGIN: Hill and Gresham selected for star-studded match 

From his 158 short kicks in 2019, the stand-in skipper outperformed the league average by over four per cent. 

Ross had 81 kicks under physical or closing pressure – the two hardest kicking categories according to Champion Data – for the year; the most of any Saint. 

His kick rating (all kicks) also sat three per cent above the league average. 

Seb Ross with Dan Hannebery in the Saints' final game of 2019. Photo: Corey Scicluna.

“There’s always a lot of things I can improve on, and that’s probably one of my strengths as a footballer; that I’m always looking to improve on these little areas of my game,” Ross said.  

“That’s where I can progress as a footballer, particularly this year when we’ve got new guys coming into the side.     

Understanding their strengths and how I can complement them can let us really flourish.

- Seb Ross

His unswerving commitment and discipline stems from a frustrating spell on the sidelines over five years ago. 

A shredded hamstring tendon at the start of 2015 ruled Ross out for three months, but instead of going through the motions of a long stint in rehab, the No. 6 committed himself to come back stronger than before. 

“To rehab a serious injury like that, you’ve got to be diligent in your recovery and everything you do,” Ross said. 

“I saw that work for me as my rehab progressed, so I decided to put it into play in every other aspect of my football.”

Seb Ross during the club's scratch match. Photo: Josh Robenstone.

Ross has missed one out of a possible 88 games following his long-term hamstring injury. 

Fast-forward to 2020, and magnets have been moved and game-plan refreshed as the red, white and black begins its rise towards a new tomorrow. 

But Seb Ross’ consistency, durability and honesty will remain a constant.