From motorbikes to the AFL, Albury’s Iilish Ross has an incredible story to tell.
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The 18-year-old will call Collingwood home next season after being taken at pick 13 in the second AFL Women’s draft on Wednesday.
Ross could have never imagined she would be where she is today.
She was a motorcycle champion in her own right, becoming the first female to win in a male class when she competed at the Australian Junior Long Track Championships in 2013.
Ross’ childhood nickname, ‘Snoop’, passed on by her sister for her love of asking questions, later developed to ‘Snoop Dog’ following success on the bike.
And now, despite only one full season of football under her belt, Ross will be mixing it with some of Australia’s best female athletes in the AFLW.
“I was very nervous, I had spoken to a couple of clubs, but anything can happen on draft day,” Ross said.
“Collingwood was keen leading up to it and I had a couple of conversations with them, so they were the club I wanted to go to.”
Ross becomes the first player from the Murray Bushrangers youth girls program to be drafted, but admitted it was hard to give up her racing career.
“At the same time it makes you chase harder,” she said.
“I wanted to be at the top again so I worked that extra bit harder to be at the top again in something different.
“I work with Tim Madden three days a week in the gym on top of running sessions.
“He was the one that turned me around quickly as an athlete.”
Ross met marquee Collingwood players Mo Hope and Steph Chiocci at the draft and will be joined at the club by Victoria Country captain Darcy Guttridge, who she played alongside at the national carnival.
Murray Bushrangers’ talent manager Mick Wilson said Ross’ journey is particularly impressive given the club only had a four-week lead in to the program.
“She was always extremely coachable and her work rate is incredible,” Wilson said.
“Out of all the girls, she did the extra hours at training, time at the gym and was always working on her deficiencies.”