Richmond’s Jack Ross hopes his finals turn has come as Dustin Martin and potentially Jack Graham prepare to returnIt’s tight for posts at Tigerland, as Jack Ross knows all too well, but the young midfielder is daring to dream he will be play in the elimination final against Brisbane.
Marc McGowan
HeraldSun
August 22, 2022 - 11:33AMFringe Tiger Jack Ross is dreaming of playing in his first final next week after a strong weekend performance, albeit with the spectre of Dustin Martin and potentially Jack Graham preparing to return.
Graham’s toe injury opened the door for Ross to return for Saturday night’s 11-goal thrashing of Essendon and he responded with 21 disposals and a career-most 14 score involvements in a sparkling audition.
Ross has played 43 games during one of Richmond’s greatest eras and was on the verge of being Graham’s injury replacement for the 2019 grand final, only for Marlion Pickett to force his way in with a brilliant VFL grand final display.
Pickett famously leapfrogged Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh, who were held out of the VFL decider and placed on standby, to make his AFL debut on the biggest stage.
Ross turns 22 on September 3 – two days after the Tigers face the Lions in an elimination final at the Gabba – and is amid his best season yet but will endure a nervous wait.
Graham’s ability to shake a turf toe-type problem could be the key to his September appearance.
“It was nice to play a good game in the last round of the year, heading into finals. I knew I had to,” Ross told News Corp.
“Positionally, I wasn’t needed last week, with Jack Graham playing on-ball and ‘Shedda’ (Shane Edwards) coming in to play up forward – so to come back in and play my role and get the win was the most important thing.
“But it’s tough. I’ve been in and out, but I feel like I learn a lot from it every week and last week was no different.
“You kind of dwell on it for 24 hours or whatever but I know that if I keep dwelling on it, it’s no good for the guys around me. I just need to move on, which I’m proud of myself for this week.”
Kane Lambert has already retired and Edwards will join him at season’s end, but Ross still has a number of Richmond greats to compete with, as well as emerging young guns such as Tyler Sonsie.
“There are still so many Richmond legends, like Trent (Cotchin), who are playing and it’s pretty surreal still,” he said.
“We’ve got all the premiership photos in our meeting room and every morning you look at it and it’s pretty special and you definitely don’t take it for granted.
“Now, we’ve found ourselves in a spot where we could do it again, and I feel like if anyone can do it, it’s us.”
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-richmonds-jack-ross-hopes-his-finals-turn-has-come-as-dustin-martin-and-potentially-jack-graham-prepare-to-return/news-story/1fd9c4ec5a9c512cb52a85299d069d82