NEW JJ Liston medallist Nick Rippon says he is still determined to have a crack at an AFL career and is happy to do what it takes – even if that means improving and fine-tuning his game for another season in the Victorian Football League.
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The 21-year-old was emotional accepting the VFL’s prestigious best and fairest accolade at Crown Palladium on Monday night. Rippon said the unexpected honour had definitely made all the hard work, and all the effort teammates and coaches had put into his game, seem so worthwhile. He paid tribute to the support of his family, including mum Terri and dad Lance, both watching the count via live streaming at home in Ballarat.
The third-year Rooster was a stand-out junior pressing through the ranks, named runner-up in the TAC Cup under-18 Morrish Medal by one vote in 2012.He won the Rebels’ Adam Goodes Trophy as team best and fairest the same season. Since then, Rippon has continued to put his name in AFL draft contention. He narrowly missed VFL state selection last year but went on to earn team of the year honours and represented the league in an International Rules clash against Ireland in the post-season.
“I'd love the opportunity to play (AFL). I'm not thinking that the medal's going to do that for me. I know I have to work extremely hard in the off-season and if I have to do it again in the VFL, I'll put my best foot forward,” Rippon said.
The former East Ballarat junior and three-time St Patrick’s College Herald Sun Shield premiership player thought last season had been his standout. Then he fine-tuned some more.
”I think more so defensively my game has become a bit stronger and a lot more team orientated. Not so much about my own game, possessions and stuff like that. A lot more tackles and defensive transition,” Rippon said. “Obviously there's a lot more things I can improve on as a footballer. I think I can probably be a bit more damaging around the ground, impact the scoreboard, my disposal efficiency...but it was a more well-rounded year than previous years.”
Rippon polled 15 votes to finish one ahead of teammate Myles Sewell, Richmond’s Matt Thomas, Sandringham’s Clint Jones and Sam Dunell from Williamstown. He clinched the award with three votes in the Roosters’ last round 42-point win over Coburg. Sewell received two votes in the same game. Rippon stormed home to capture the medal amid the Roosters’ late season turnaround. One accepting the medal, Rippon said he was happy the team had finished the season so well for outgoing Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald.
This is the Roosters’ fourth JJ Liston win in seven seasons and fifth overall. Julian Field won the club’s first in 2004. Sewell (2009) and Clifton (a joint winner in 2010 and 2013) have both played alongside Rippon, who said it felt “ a little bit surreal” to be joining their calibre.
“(Sewell and Clifton) are both extremely decorated footballers and they're just extremely great men as well,” Rippon said. “Sewelly and Cliffo have helped me a lot. Obviously they've been in the same position I have in regards to missing out on the draft...they've helped me become the player I am today.”
Rippon was named on the wing in the 2015 VFL team of the year with Roosters’ teammates Sewell, Luke Kiel and Andrew Hooper named on the interchange.
Sewell is now a five-time VFL player of the year. He was named in the all-star team consecutively from 2009-12 and returned to Eureka Stadium this season from a year’s hiatus to travel, which he finished playing with his brother in a grand final for Ballarat Swans in the Ballarat Football League.
It is a first-time honour for Hooper and Kiel. Hooper was a two-time TAC Cup team of the year player (2008-09) when playing for the Rebels before he was rookie drafted to Western Bulldogs. He returned to Eureka Stadium as a Rooster this season after two year with SANFL club Glenelg.
Kiel, who hails from Swan Hill, has emerged as a dangerous defender and on-field leader for the Roosters in his four seasons with the club. He moved to Ballarat four years ago and spent his whole first season in the development team ranks.
2015 VFL TEAM OF THE YEAR
B: Peter Faulks (Williamstown), Jake Wilson (Werribee), David Mirra (Box Hill Hawks).
HB: Jordan Russell (Footscray), Michael Hartley (Coburg), Ryan Pendelbury (Collingwood).
C: Mitch Banner (Williamstown), Clint Jones (Sandringham), Nick Rippon (North Ballarat).
HF: Sam Dunell (Williamstown), Mitch Brown (Sandringham), Isaac Conway (Werribee).
F: Andrew Gallucci (Williamstown), Jordan Lisle (Port Melbourne), Kyle Hardingham (Essendon).
R: Nick Meese (Williamstown), Ben Jolley (Williamstown), Ozgur Uysal (Coburg).
Interchange: Luke Kiel (North Ballarat), Myles Sewell (North Ballarat), Adam Marcon (Williamstown), Matt Hanson (Werribee), Ben Moloney (Collingwood), Andrew Hooper (North Ballarat).
COACH: Paul Hudson (Sandringham). CAPTAIN: David Mirra (Box Hill)
