A whirlwind 12 months has morphed Ben Ronke from a virtual unknown to a possible draftee.
Having missed selection for the Cannons twice, he played local football last year with St Bernards, where he showed enough talent at the under-19 level to be selected for the seniors, and was part of St Bernards’ Victorian Amateur Football Association A-grade premiership side last season.
While being drafted was always at the back of his mind, Ronke didn’t think he had a chance.
He planned a pre-season at Footscray VFL, but a phone call from Calder Cannons’ talent manager Ian Kyte changed all that.
“Ian called me [in the off season] and said I was still eligible to play,” Ronke said last week. “I thought I may as well give it a crack. I came down to Cannons and started in the bottom group, and worked my way up to the top group.
“I then made my debut in round one.”
The 18-year-old ended up playing 15 games for the Cannons this year, and was one of their most consistent players, winning the club’s best and fairest award, the Robert Hyde Medal.
“I really enjoyed the last 12 months with the Cannons,” Ronke said.
“I thought Zach [Guthrie] was going to hold on and win. I was grateful and honoured to win it.”
Ronke’s performances haven’t just been recognised by the club – he was selected to test at the state combine, where he topped the testing in the 20-metre sprint and recorded a top-10 beep test.
He also made his VFL debut playing two games for Coburg, and his name is on the radar of some AFL clubs.
“I’m trying to keep expectations down and spending time with friends and family,” he said.
“I’ve always tried to stay positive and I had hope in the back of my mind I’d get selected. I’ve spoken to some clubs.”
Having played both TAC Cup and senior football at St Bernards and Coburg, Ronke he will have an edge come draft time.
“It was a great experience playing against players who you see on the TV,” he said. “I think it will help. The speed and psychological game between the TAC Cup and VFL is different.
“It takes a little bit of time to get used to.”
If not taken in the drafts, Ronke could be recruited by Essendon as a category B rookie under the new indigenous and multicultural academies. He said he hasn’t thought much about this option.
