How Morningside player Mary Ross went from a potential umpiring career to earning a QW Winter Series debut for Gold Coast Suns
Mary Ross calls it getting the “tinglies”. It’s the feeling the half-forward gets when she thinks about making a career out of football after being plucked from obscurity by the Gold Coast Suns for the QW Winter Series while playing in the lower divisions.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MARY Ross calls it getting the “tinglies”.
It’s the feeling the half-forward gets when she thinks about making a career out of football after being plucked from obscurity by the Gold Coast Suns while playing in the QFAW Division 1 competition for Morningside this year.
Ross looked destined to become a top level umpire but is now edging towards joining the AFLW as a player after being brought into the Suns QW Winter Series squad.
The 20-year-old has been named to play against Brisbane in the second game of the series at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Saturday.
“I call it the tinglies. There is something there and I’m chasing it,” Ross said.
Ross has played footy since the age of five but never considered a career in the code until turning the heads of Suns coaches during one of their talent identification days earlier this year.
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Ross trialled alongside a host of the QAFLW league’s best players who she is now tussling with for a spot on Gold Coast’s AFLW list in 2020.
She has played two games for Coorparoo’s QAFLW team this year during scheduled bye weekend’s for Morningside. QAFLW team’s are allowed to use one player outside their list throughout the season.
“The experience of training with the girls at the Suns has been completely different,” Ross said.
“There is no doubt it’s elite. The stuff I’m learning, I have managed to draw on some of it and take it back to club footy to help boost the girls at Morningside.
“I noticed the difference in my game straight away.”
Ross spent seven years umpiring and was part of the AFL Queensland umpiring squad where a career with the whistle was ready for the taking.
SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FULL ON FOOTY GOLD COAST AUSSIE RULES NEWSLETTER
But when it came to choosing between officiating and football, there was only ever going to be one winner.
“All I have known is footy, nothing else has really clicked,” Ross said.
“Footy is just what I do. I tried my hand at umpiring a bit. I made it to quite a high level but I was told if I wanted to move up in the umpiring academy then I couldn’t even be thinking of playing.
FILLING LIST PRIORITY OVER LEVELLING SERIES: SUNS COACH
TOP 10 GOLD COAST SUNS PLAYERS
THE TIPS: FINDING AN AFL WINNER
“I was thinking about it a lot so that choice was made.
“Playing footy is 10 times better.
“I felt it wasn’t where I wanted to go, even though the opportunity was there to go to a higher level for it. I wanted to take a step back, remember why I enjoyed footy, go back to playing at my junior club and have some fun.”
Track Watch: Doubts grow over star Sun’s Opening Round chances
The Suns could be on the verge of a major Opening Round blow, with one of their brightest stars now officially in doubt to make their first clash of the season against the Bombers.
‘F*** I miss it’: How the Cutters managed to sign former Sun
After stepping away from the AFL due to mental fatigue, former Richmond Tigers premiership star and Gold Coast Sun Brandon Ellis has rediscovered his love for the game, signing with the South Cairns Cutters for the 2025 season. This is why.