Kye Annand was hoping to be eased into senior football this season, but found himself thrust into the number one ruckman’s role.
The 18-year-old had a taste of senior footy last year with four games towards the end of the season, but was looking at continuing his development as a second ruck and perhaps a floating forward.
An injury to Ed Dayman meant Annand had to shoulder the number one ruck duties this year and to say it paid off is an understatement.
He won the BFL Rookie of the Year, was named in the BFL team of the year and recently won the Grubbers’ senior best and fairest, the Damian Clark Medal.
“I’ve never played ruck until last year and I wasn’t meant to play ruck this year,” Annand said.
“I sat down with (coach) Pete (Davey) and said ‘I’m happy to do a back up ruck role, but I definitely don’t want to take the full charge.
“We got a few rounds in and one of the boys went down injured and he (Davey) came up and said ‘would you mind rucking’ and I said ‘yeah no worries’ and I just said I’m happy to keep going if the team needs me there and I sort of picked it up along the way.”
Annand will follow in the footsteps of his older brother Kobe next year and ply his trade in the stronger Geelong Football League.
But Kye won’t necessarily follow his brother, who had a superb debut season for North Shore as a 20-year-old, to North Shore.
“I’ve let the club know that I’ll be headed into the GFL,” he said.
“Not sure on a club yet, I’m talking to a few but I’ll head in there and challenge myself, but no doubt will be back at the Grubs one day.
“I’ve spoken to a few different ones, obviously them (North Shore), but I’ll make an educated decision with the people around me and find a spot that will best suit me and suit my football.”
Annand said the thing he learned most this season was the pride in pulling on the red and white jumper each week.
“Thinking of all the past players and what they’ve done for the club and created for us to come through and do,” he said.
“There was a lot of passion in the jumper and you put it on and run out there and know what you’re playing for.”
