Single vote secures McMahon victory for comeback gun Ross
GUN Highton all-rounder Brandon Ross has completed a stunning comeback from a lifethreatening accident, claiming the Barry McMahon Medal.
Ross, who suffered a broken shoulder and ankle in a serious vehicle accident in September 2016, was rewarded for years of toil by winning the GCA2 bestand-fairest last night.
In a tight vote count, allrounder Ross polled 17 votes, finishing just one vote ahead of a closing pack comprising teammate James Gillard, Marshall’s Corey Walter, Geelong City’s Richie Oliver, Modewarre’s Jake Hooson and Bell Park’s David Toft.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Ross said. “It’s a bit of a shock, actually. I thought a couple of other blokes had better years than what I did, but I’m pretty happy. I definitely thought David Toft (would poll well) and Richie (Oliver) and Jake Hooson had a lot of three-vote games, you could say, so I knew they’d be up there.
“I think there was five guys who could all win it with one round to go, so it was close.”
Ross, who snared 30 wickets at 13.35 and scored 352 runs at 32, polled in seven matches.
Gillard polled in six matches on the back of his 507-run season.
“He was very good, very consistent,” Ross said of Gillard. “I think he made five fifties and he had a super year. I think he made one duck but no other score was below 20, so he was very good.”
Ross, 27, admitted he was relieved to win the medal, conceding he thought his career was over when his ankle was crushed in the accident, forcing him to miss a season-anda-half after requiring further surgery.
“After the accident I had three or four years ago, it’s just good to get back somewhere near where I was prior to that,” Ross said. “You never quite know how well you’re going until little accolades like this come along, so it’s pleasing.”