For someone whose trophy cabinet is as festooned as Brodie Ross’, he sure is one humble guy.
Nathalia’s chief altruist has six Murray Football League premierships to his name, three club best-and-fairests, one league goal-kicking award and is coming off a joint O’Dwyer Medal winning season.
He was also an integral part of one of the region’s greatest football dynasties during the Purples’ famous five-peat and this weekend the 33-year-old will hit the park for game number 250 against Tocumwal.
You’d think he’d go through bottle after bottle of Silvo polishing his own wares, but always modest, Ross is moreso proud of how his team is tracking this season.
“It doesn’t really matter too much, the milestones, but we’re continuing on with a bit of good form,” Ross said.
“It’s been pleasing to see the improvement in a lot of guys this year, especially a lot of our young brigade ― that’s probably what we base our form off.
“You kind of know what you’re going to get off the older fellas, it’s the younger fellas who have been getting us going which has been very pleasing to see.”
Ross would probably consider himself one of the ‘‘older fellas’’ nowadays at Nathalia, but that wasn’t always the case.
He started in the year 2000 playing in the fourths, often where the wheat is separated from the chaff, and a few years later Ross’ decorated career would truly begin thanks to a door knock from Marc Quarrell, who coached Nathalia’s seniors at the time.
An injury had meant Ross was in the line up, and that was it.
The third generation Purple would go on to refine his game as a bullocking centre half-full-forward and, though he’d kicked goals ― well over 100 in his career by this point ― he would have to wait until 2012 for his first senior premiership.
Nathalia knocked off Finley and there it was ― trophy number one for the drawer.
However, like any talented footballer with ambition, Ross did step away to test himself at a higher level.
He joined Shepparton United in 2014 and went on to kick 25 goals in the Goulburn Valley League that season, but returned to Nathalia the following year just in time to jump into a premiership winning campaign.
Another followed. Then another. Then two more just for good measure.
The Purples’ half-decade of dominance was a true demonstration of power and it’s no surprise a couple of those years ranked high among Ross’ favourite moments in a Nathalia jersey.
“Obviously the premierships would be up there; 2012, the first one, was special,” he said.
“2016 was a really good one too, just for me personally to play a bit more of a part in it. Then in 2019 as well, I enjoyed those ones a little bit more.
“There was not too much else to do in Nathalia when you’re living there I suppose.
“We’d get together on a Sunday and knock around, that’s pretty much where all your social stuff comes from, the footy club.
“We did everything together back then which was good.”
A quick jaunt to the Northern Territory followed as COVID-19 killed off footy in the Goulburn Valley for a year-and-a-half, but on his full return to the Murray league, Ross put on a season-long show equal to firecrackers on the fourth.
He had transitioned from the forward line into the ruck in 2019, a bold move considering he’d booted 69 goals the season prior, but clearly it was not a step up he couldn’t handle ― a trend relevant to Ross’ career.
The forward-turned-ruck was given a proper go at the role in 2022 and showed his malleability doing so, eventually tying with Tongala’s Nicholas Jamieson for the O’Dwyer Medal.
“I’m not sure if it was the best footy I’ve ever played, but it was consistent in terms of week in, week out,” Ross said.
“I was playing in a different position and I suppose when you’re around the footy a bit more you’re obviously going to get a few more touches.
“I found a bit more consistency with my game which was good.”
As for consistency, that’s something Nathalia has rediscovered this season with games gone by.
Finding themselves 2-4 after six rounds, the Purples have gone on to win nine straight with each set of four points drawing Ross closer to a fabled seventh flag.
“I think we’re going for 10 in a row this week, so we’re ticking the right boxes,” Ross said.
“Hopefully we can finish top two if possible ... we’re level on points with second, so if we keep winning we’ll be right there at the pointy end, but we’ll see what happens.”