Sport
11 September, 2023
Stephen Ross celebrates his 350th game
While it wasn’t quite the 350th game celebration that Stephen Ross was hoping for, Sunday was still an extraordinary celebration of a man who has done so much for the Natte Bealiba faithful, with a sea of red and white supporting him. Ross’...
While it wasn’t quite the 350th game celebration that Stephen Ross was hoping for, Sunday was still an extraordinary celebration of a man who has done so much for the Natte Bealiba faithful, with a sea of red and white supporting him.
Ross’ legacy is one that will be etched in Natte Bealiba folklore forever.
A seven-time best and fairest winner with the club, a Lexton Plains senior best and fairest and interleague representative, as well as representation with Vic Country and the Bendigo Bombers, Ross has achieved many great things in his time at Natte Bealiba, but perhaps his crowning moments are his involvements in both the 2011 and 2019 premierships — the latter as captain.
Yet ask Ross what his greatest moment as a footballer is, and he’ll tell you it’s his ability to bring a club together, in particular, the junior side of things, which Ross played an integral part in re-establishing.
“We didn’t have any juniors a few years ago, and I had my boys coming up. I felt if we needed to have a crack at it, I thought someone had to do it, so I put my hand up,” he said.
“It’s been done with a lot of help, but the club is in good stead. We have three junior football teams that are going well, and the senior teams are going very well. As a club, we are very happy with what we have at the moment.”
Ross has a rich family legacy at the club, as he explains.
“To play so many games for a great club is special for my family. My dad played over 300 games, and my two brothers have played over 200,” he said.
“It’s a great family club, and I hope my kids keep the family tradition alive and keep playing at Natte for as long as they can.”
His kids are a big reason as to why Ross keeps coming back and playing at such a high level.
“I dedicate myself to the club, and I don’t miss training too much. My boys love coming over as well, which helps,” he said.
“I just want to be a good role model for them, and I enjoy playing with my best mates as well.
“I think I started when I was 15, and I looked up to some really good players. My first coaches were Brent Mortlock and Ian Martin, who were superstars, and now 23 years later, I’m the old one.”
Ross says building on his values for the junior side of things holds Natte in good stead as a club.
“I think I would describe myself as good, genuine and modest. I try to coach it into my juniors to never be cocky, whether you are winning or losing. I love it when everyone is happy, having fun with a good attitude. I think that would describe my values,” he said.
That extends to the senior group, who Ross describes as the lifeblood of the club.
“We have a good, loyal group. There is a lot of locals that play for nothing, which is pretty rare these days,” he said.
“We always rely on those guys chipping in, and volunteers chipping in. We will get back to the drawing board, and with a good lot of juniors, we hope they will start to get in, as well as a few recruits, which hopefully gets us back to the top.”
That extends to senior coach Trent Mortlock, who was an integral part of ensuring the community would celebrate Ross’ special day. “
Trent is awesome. You wouldn’t meet a better bloke. He’s still young, but he has put so much into the club,” he said.
“He does everything, paperwork in the office, and took on the coaching job. He has excelled, and I hope he does it again next year — he is one of the best I’ve played under, he talks really well and he leads from the front.”