Tough rookie shows he belongs
BEN Ronke has earned his AFL debut for the Sydney Swans the hard way.
The rookie-listed small forward broke his ribs in a practice match and then broke them again on his return, forcing him to miss the first half of last season.
However, the Calder Cannons recruit who was selected by the Swans in the 2017 rookie draft with pick 17, says being forced to deal with adversity early on in his career was a blessing in disguise.
“In the long run it’s helped me,” Ronke said. “When you get to the club you want to earn your teammates’ respect.
“I tried to do that by working hard in rehab. Having a speed bump early makes you appreciate when you do get an opportunity. I’m rapt to get it.”
After his initial setback Ronke quickly impressed in the Swans’ NEAFL side with his strong tackling inside 50 complementing his 14 goals in 12 matches.
The Swans are hoping Ronke will provide a key part of the injury-hit Swans game plan to extend their winning streak against Geelong at Kardinia Park to three games.
“I base my game around physical pressure, energy and aggression in the forward half,” Ronke said. “Having speed in the front half will work if we can get it to ground and make it a scrap. We need to keep a high intensity pressure game up and that plays to our strengths.”