Ben Ronke’s seven-goal performance against Hawthorn earns him a Rising Star nomination
DRAFT picks get to choose their own jersey numbers, but rookies are left with the scraps. That’s worked out just fine for the AFL’s newest sensation and Round 8 Rising Star Ben Ronke.
Sydney
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DRAFT picks get to choose their own jersey numbers, but rookies are left with the scraps.
That’s worked out just fine for the AFL’s newest sensation Ben Ronke, who after coming to Sydney via the back door, has landed himself in the midst of Swans royalty, simply by picking up the No.25 from the leftovers pile.
Sydney’s locker room seats players in numerical order and suddenly the 19-year-old — brushed from rep teams through his teens — has No.23, Lance Franklin, No.24, Dean Rampe, and No.26, Luke Parker flanking him when he laces up his boot.
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But Ronke has instantly shown he’s not making up the numbers.
In one of the most extraordinary rookie performances in Swans history, Ronke showed with his record-breaking seven-goal blitzkrieg against Hawthorn last Friday night that he belongs in the inner-sanctum.
Ronke has earned a coveted Rising Star nomination and from nowhere, the young talent ignored by rival clubs, has rocketed into contention for the AFL’s rookie of the year award.
No Swan has ever kicked seven goals and made 10 tackles in a match, and seven majors puts him in rare air in Sydney occupied only by Tony Lockett, Barry Hall and the mentor two doors down, Franklin.
“I can’t really be compared to those sort of blokes this early on. If I could be in any sort of league with them at any stage of my career I’d be honoured,” said Ronke.
“They’re people who are the epitome of the game. It’s good to get some recognition, but if I can be half the players they are I’d be happy.
“Sitting near Luke Parker, Dean Rampe and Buddy in the locker room, and having some of the best players in the game giving you advice — I feel I’m very lucky.
“Probably the best advice has been not over thinking it and just going out there and playing my role. Bringing the foundation of my game and letting the rest flow from there.
“I want to really look at myself now as a senior football player at the Swans.”
Ronke says missing out on the AFL draft — and instead taking the long road as an AFL rookie picked up by the Swans in 2017 — has shaped the player he is.
“I think it’s been for the best in the way that it’s helped me seeing some adversity,” he said.
“Obviously when you are in the AFL system there are highs but there are lows as well and if I do experience lows I’ll look back to times where I was coming through the system and I did face adversity and didn’t make a team when I was growing up.
“I’ll really try and draw back to that and hopefully it holds me in good stead to get out of a rut if I do go onto that at AFL level.”
The correct pronunciation is ‘Ronke’ with the ‘e’ silent, but commentators and teammates seem to like ‘Ronkey’ — and the goalkicking crowd-pleaser couldn’t care less.
“Yeah, I’ve always got Ronkey. My old man got Ronkey when he was playing footy as well. I don’t mind how it’s pronounced to be honest,” he said.
“It’s a great honour to get that (Rising Star) recognition and something I definitely won’t take for granted.”
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