Seb Ross never thought he’d play AFL, right up until his draft day

SEB Ross is Jobe Watson’s cousin but he admits playing AFL football wasn’t a path he ever thought he would tread, right up until his draft day in 2011.

Seb Ross in action for St Kilda. Picture: George Salpigtidis

IT was the rip that set Seb Ross right.

Yes, a high-grade tear to the left hamstring – that required surgery and saw him sidelined for almost three months – was a positive.

I was crap at footy in under-14s ... I never really actually thought I would play AFL one day.

Seb Ross

The Saint has had the season of his life, playing every home-and-away game, sitting in the competition’s top 25 for disposals and proving his worth as one of St Kilda’s pre-eminent midfielders.

Ross, 23, said the horror injury he suffered in last year’s NAB Challenge was a “blessing in disguise” because he had to work overtime to get back.

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“I actually had to be across all my rehabilitation, all my weights — across everything and absolutely ticking every box, but at the same time doing it properly,” Ross says.

“In the past, I might not have done that.

St Kilda’s Seb Ross at Port Melbourne beach. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’ve been really structured during the week and nailing my preparation and my recovery ... so then the two hours on game day becomes the easiest part of the week because you’ve done all the work.”

Ross is from Tim Watson territory, the Wimmera. His mother is the former Bomber captain and three-time premiership player’s sister.

Ross was just nine years old when his cousin, Jobe Watson, made his debut for the Bombers.

But he admits it wasn’t a path he ever thought he would tread — right up until his draft day in 2011.

Meetings with clubs, including Essendon and Sydney, took place but it wasn’t until his exit from a “casual” catch-up with the Demons two days before the national draft that had him thinking that AFL could well be within his reach.

“I was crap at footy in under-14s,” Ross laughs.

Seb Ross tackles Ed Curnow. Picture: Michael Klein

“I was just no good. It wasn’t until I went up to under-17s and was in my bottom-age year that I went from being crap in my top-age under-14 year to winning the best and fairest as a bottom-bottom-anger in under-17s.

“I don’t know if it was just a maturity thing. Mum and Dad sent me (from Horsham) down to boarding school in Ballarat in Year 10. I never really actually thought I would play AFL one day.

Because he’s starting to get that confidence on the field, he’s getting it off the field and he’s dragging blokes with him.

Tom Curren

“(After time with Ballarat Rebels and Vic Country) we set up a meeting with Sydney and I was thinking, ‘Why do they want to come and talk to me?’ I was still playing good footy, but it wasn’t a reality to me — I was focused on school and living in the boarding house.

“It was in an interview with Melbourne — a casual one a few days before the draft — and as I walked out, the guy said, ‘Good luck wherever you end up’. And I thought, ‘Geez, maybe I will actually end up somewhere’.

“It wasn’t like the blokes that know they’re going top 10. I thought I could go anywhere from 30 to rookie or not even get drafted. It wasn’t until he said that.”

Saint Jack Newnes, Ross’s housemate, and teammate Tom Curren — both picked up by St Kilda in 2011 — say he “ticks every box” as a player, on and off the field.

Seb Ross and his 4-month-old pup Nori. Picture: Michael Klein

“Because he’s starting to get that confidence on the field, he’s getting it off the field and he’s dragging blokes with him,” Curren said.

“He’s very grounded. He’s always level-headed and measured. It’s no surprise that it came as a surprise to him. It’s great to see, really, because he’s a great person as well. Very selfless.”

The Bombers had the family link and pick 31 in their pocket at the end of 2011, and with Ross thinking that was about where he’d be at, he and his family weren’t even paying attention to the TV when his name was called by the Saints with pick 25.

His path to AFL had begun, and while having been touted by commentators as “Jobe’s cousin” or “Tim’s nephew” in recent years, Ross is making a name of his own.

“It’s never worried me. Ever since I got drafted, it’s just been part of it,” he said.

“What I have noticed this year since I’ve started playing better footy is that those questions have become less.”

Ross said he really only sees his cousin at Christmas.

“I asked (Jobe’s mum) Susie how’s he going recently – I think he was in Portland, in Oregon, still making coffees. I think he is having fun,” he said.

“She said he’s really happy. That’s all I care about.”

It’s “never crossed his mind” as to what could have played out had he gone to Essendon at the end of 2011, now feeling right at home with the Saints.

“Ever since I’ve come here, this is my home,” Ross said.

“There was about 10 of us that got drafted together. St Kilda has been my home ever since and I’ve never thought about going anywhere else.”