Ash Riddell - Redemption!

Last year I was fortunate enough to watch Diamond Creek a bit in the VFLW. The team already had many established AFLW players but there were young guns coming through such as Chloe Molloy, Ash Riddell & Reni Hicks who were hopeful of being drafted.

Sadly, Ash Riddell was overlooked, this despite being named in the VFLW Team of the Year! I was & still am shocked.

Fast forward 8 months & things have changed significantly for Ash. A new club in Melbourne University where she's reunited with Creeker's coach from last season, Scott Gowans. Named captain & now its been announced that she's been signed by new AFLW club North Melbourne & I couldn't be happier for her! 

After last season's draft I spoke with Ash about her disappointment. 

Here's her story: 

BW Firstly Ash, thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me. I understand it's probably difficult for you right now, but I really do appreciate your time.

AR That's ok, I'm feeling much better now than I did this time last week, that's for sure!

BW So, let's start at the start, where did you grow up?

AR I was born in Penrith NSW & lived in the Blue Mountains until I was 4, then we moved to Perth until I was 10. After that we moved to Eltham, where I've been ever since.

BW Tell me about your earliest memories playing footy.

AR When I was little I started off doing Auskick back in Perth. When we moved to Melbourne I started off playing against the boys in the under 10's & 11's for the Eltham Panthers. I stopped playing footy after those 2 years & took up basketball where I played until I was 18.

BW You played basketball right through high school. What have you done since finishing year 12?

AR I'm studying Osteopathy at RMIT in Bundoora. It's a 5 year course & I'm into my 4th year.

BW So, who or what got you back to playing footy?

AR A friend of mine played for Fitzroy in VFLW Div 3 & she asked me along. I thought it might be a good way to increase my fitness & meet new people. I forgot just how much I'd missed footy & really enjoyed it.

BW How did you go?

AR Much better than I thought, I won our club Best & Fairest & the comp's Best First Year Player. As a result I received an invite to an AFL run Academy which was in Essendon each Tuesday night from November to the following March, where about 16 of us worked on skills, fitness & gym.

BW After a great start with Fitzroy, how did you end up at Diamond Creek?

AR In November, just after starting in the Academy I was approached by Scott Gowans, who'd been appointed to coach Diamond Creek & he invited me along. There were no guarantees, it was up to me to prove that I could compete & hold my own against better players. When I started the only players I knew were Chloe Molloy through basketball, Tania Hetherington & Kirby Hicks who were also at the Academy. I knew of most of the AFLW players, but early on they were training with their AFLW clubs.

BW You must have impressed during pre season as you played in round 1 v Seaford.

AR Yeah, I was stoked just to be playing with & learning from some of the best.

BW Do your family go along & watch you? 

AR Like most players, the support we get from our families is huge. Most weeks my Mum, Dad & partner Vinnie come to watch. It's nice knowing that.

BW When did you realise you were up to the required standard at VFLW level?

AR Early on, we played Melbourne Uni at home & I played well. That was when I realised.

BW My son umpired that game so I was there & yes, you played very well that day. You even won an award from GPF who did the radio coverage, didn't you?

AR I might have.

BW You did & you had a ripper game! I can still remember how proud your Mum was when you told her you’d won the radio award.

AR Thank you.

BW Who did you look up to & seek to learn from at Diamond Creek?

AR I was very fortunate to have 2 wonderful co captains in Tanya Hetherington & Steph Chiocci. They're very similar in that they both provide positive reassurance & our ruckman Alison Downey was just awesome with our structure. She'd tell me exactly where she was going to tap it. I got an armchair ride off her.

BW It was a great year for Diamond Creek, making it through to the Grand Final, but it was also a great year for you personally, being selected in the VFLW Team of the Year. Congratulations on that by the way, you must have been thrilled?

AR I was shocked to be honest, I was even surprised to be invited. Just to stand up on the stage with Daisy Pearce, Katie Brennan, Steph Chiocci etc... it was very humbling. 

BW You also received an invite to the Draft Combine. How was that?

AR I tested reasonably well in the endurance related areas. Whilst there it also provided an opportunity to talk with the 4 Victorian AFLW clubs. They all kept their cards close to their chests, so I knew there were no guarantees about being drafted.

BW Did you have a preference?

AR No, my whole family are mad Collingwood supporters, but I'd gladly have gone anywhere.

BW Now, let's get to why we're here. Draft day. Where did you watch it?

AR I was actually invited to the draft so I went there with my Dad, partner & a friend.

BW Geez, talk about rubbing salt into the wound!

AR Yeah.

BW At what point did you realise that you were not going to be drafted?

AR You kind of always hold out that faint glimmer of hope, but when Carlton's 4th selection wasn't me, I knew then. Given my age I also realised I was too old to be rookied.

BW What was your immediate reaction?

AR Ah crap! It didn't sink in straight away, but when it did, I was just gutted & was really down on the Wednesday & Thursday. After that I vowed to myself to take it on the chin & improve in those areas I could so I'd make it impossible to be overlooked in the future.

BW What areas specifically?

AR Explosive speed off the mark. You look at the elite mids like Daisy Pearce, Emma Kearney & Ellie Blackburn & they're just so quick over the first 5 metres. I also need to improve my kicking on my non preferred foot. I also think I can improve my endurance so rather than rotating off the bench, I'd like to go forward & be a threat near goals.

BW Did you speak with any clubs after the draft to get some feedback about why you hadn't been drafted?

AR No, but I spoke to Scott Gowans who said the Carlton had enough mids. When I thought that through, I realised that was the strength of the 4 Victorian clubs. As I said, I pretty much knew straight away I needed to work my arse off over Summer & have a massive 2018 at VFLW.

BW Speaking of 2018, will you stay at Diamond Creek?

AR It's probably a bit early to know for sure to be honest. Diamond Creek are just the most wonderful club, with beautiful people. It's a shame Scott is moving on, but what a fantastic appointment for Melb Uni next season & then North Melbourne in the AFLW in 2019. I'm still not sure what will happen with our AFLW players, but if they have to play for their respective AFLW affiliate clubs from next season, Diamond Creek for example stands to lose a dozen of its best players. I guess I just need to know exactly what's going to happen first.

BW Going forward, what's your thoughts at this stage as far as being drafted?

AR As I said, I'm pretty determined & I’m going to work my arse off. I'll watch as many AFLW games as possible, paying particular attention to the elite mids with a view to emulating them. There's so much young talent coming through, that even with the inclusion of North Melbourne & Geelong in 2019, I'm not taking anything for granted, so I have to be the best I can & it's up to me, no one’s going to give me anything for free.

BW Fantastic attitude Ash. I guess clubs also look to see what sort of attitude is displayed by those overlooked in the draft & you're certainly sending out the right message, not dwelling on things.

AR You have to, don't you, after all, it's a sport at the end of the day. There are people out there every day getting much worse news than me.

BW Ash, been lovely to talk to you & thank you for opening up about your feelings. With your attitude, you're sure to be drafted in 2019.

AR Thank's Barry & thank you for supporting Diamond Creek & women's footy in general.