Ben Ronke could become just second rookie to win AFL Rising Star
A ROOKIE winning the AFL Rising Star? St Kilda goalkicking great - and former rookie - Stephen Milne loves what he sees from the Sydney young gun in what looms as an intriguing battle. VOTE
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STEPHEN Milne says this is Sydney dynamo Ben Ronke’s shot at a rare piece of history.
A rookie winning the Rising Star?
“It’s (only happened once before), and it’s something that wouldn’t happen ever again,” the former St Kilda goalkicking whiz said.
“He’s a bit of a firecracker, isn’t he? He doesn’t hold back, which I love.
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“He’s got a bit of arrogance about him and a little bit of strut, which is always good in that position.”
Ronke stands a chance to upset Collingwood jet Jaidyn Stephenson.
Historically, Stephenson looks a lock. The Rising Star has long been dominated by early draft picks and Stephenson was taken at No.6 last year.
Thirteen of the 18 winners this century have been top-10 picks, including mini-draft selections Jaeger O’Meara and Jesse Hogan.
The outlier was rookie Danyle Pearce (2006 winner) and, after him, Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell, who was drafted all the way back at pick 36 in the 2001 super draft.
Every year the nominations are stacked with prized selections, perhaps helping justify the AFL’s elite junior programs.
But Ronke was missed. This was a kid taken at pick 17 in the rookie draft after playing in St Bernard’s 2015 senior VAFA premiership.
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In 2016 there were 93 players selected before Ronke, from 2017 Rising Star Andrew McGrath at No.1 to Geelong’s Jack Henry at the preceding rookie pick.
Twelve of the past 18 winners have, like Stephenson, been first-year players. Ronke is in his second year.
Adelaide’s Tom Doedee is hoping to join teammate Daniel Talia as the only third-year player to win the Rising Star since 1999.
History sides with Stephenson. But the statistics say Ronke, who has had his numbers fattened by bags of 7.0 and 5.1 in upset wins this year.
Milne reckons Ronke would’ve watched replays of his seven-goal haul “seven or eight” times.
“You just want to keep doing it,” Milne said.
“If you’re having seven or eight shots you want to kick your 5.2 or 6.2, instead of your 2.5, because that’s when you start putting yourself at risk.
“Once you kick those goals you’re doing articles on him and everyone starts taking notice.
“That’s his job and there’s nothing better than a small forward working your way into the game and kicking sausage rolls and celebrating. He goes nuts after a goal, it’s good.”
After dual All-Australian Milne came off the rookie list it took him 95 games to boot a bag that big, when he exploded with 11.0 in 2005.
It took Ronke three games, as he lit up Friday night with seven opportunistic goals against Hawthorn.
When Ronke warmed up for that Round 7 match, needing coach John Longmire’s help to find the MCG playing surface, he was $101 for the Rising Star and didn’t feature when the market opened.
“I’m playing B-Grade (VAFA) at the moment and we’re playing St Bernard’s (next week), where Ronke was playing a couple of years ago,” Milne said.
“Now he’s played 11 AFL games and is probably one of the first picked because of his tackling and pressure.
“Running half-backs these days are getting quicker and longer kicks, and so you need to put that pressure on and then kick goals as a bonus. He’s got 10 years in the game.”
Ronke tackles more than Stephenson and shades him for forward-half pressure points.
But Milne hasn’t missed Stephenson, who he watches with admiration tinged by jealousy.
“If I was him one-out in the goalsquare, I’d be loving it,” Milne said.
“I don’t think I ever got allowed to be one-out in the goalsquare with the forward 50m to myself in my first year.
“I was getting in trouble by Malcolm Blight for getting in Rooey (Nick Riewoldt) and Loewey (Stewart Loewe) and Fraser (Gehrig’s) way.
“To have that licence to go one-out in the goalsquare in your first year is a mean feat in itself.
“He’s kind of playing that Phillip Matera role – lead-out forward. He’s got a lot of tricks.”
Talia has crowed about aerial star Doedee, who slotted a maiden goal from the boundary in the last quarter against West Coast in Round 15.
“He’s done better than (Jake) Lever,” Talia said earlier this year.
“We’re not feeling the loss of Jake at the moment.”
Redhead Ed Richards won his nomination at half-back and then won the Bulldogs their match against Geelong with three last-quarter goals up forward.
Brisbane’s Alex Witherden sparkles by foot, with his kicking efficiency just below 80 per cent, while No.1 pick Cameron Rayner is finishing with a rush.
Milne was mates with tennis star Andrew Florent, the late father of Ronke’s teammate Ollie, and has coached younger brother Jy Florent.
“Florent belongs in that side now,” Milne said.
“It takes a while to know you’re good enough, but once you know you find another gear. He’s the same as Stephenson and Ronke, they know they all belong.”
So, who wins it?
“I think Jaidyn’s got it – just. In saying that, if Florent finishes the last five games with 20-plus possessions he might pip him.
“But at the moment, Stevo.”
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Originally published as Ben Ronke could become just second rookie to win AFL Rising Star