It was announced on Thursday that St Kilda would play Port Adelaide on June 2 in Shanghai, taking over from the Gold Coast Suns on a three-year deal to play an annual match in China. 

Ross said the chance to play such a long way from home was an exciting opportunity he would never have thought possible.

“The whole team is really excited about it,” Ross said in a press conference on Friday.

“I grew up in a country town called Horsham in country Victoria, and a lot of the boys are from rural country towns, so to grow up to play AFL in Melbourne, let alone play a game in China is pretty exciting.

“I’ve never really done Asia, so that’s something that I’m really looking forward to.”

Ross, a member of St Kilda’s leadership group, said the chance to travel to an unfamiliar city provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships and improve team camaraderie. 

“I think it’s a really great opportunity, particularly with our young group, to get away from the hysteria of Melbourne,” he said.

“Being able to go over there early in the week and really gel over there as a group – and try and win a game of footy.” 

The fixture will likely benefit Port Adelaide who have played in China twice before.

Ross and the Saints also have experience playing overseas, having played in New Zealand three times on ANZAC Day between 2013 – 2015. 

But the different culture and atmosphere of Shanghai presents a unique set of challenges.  

“It will be pretty hot and humid over there, so that will be the main challenge, it being pretty cold in Melbourne and then having to go over there and play in the heat,” Ross said. “But it’s something I think both teams will have to adapt to.” 

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While he’s confident about the football, Ross is a little less certain about the prospect of Chinese food, a cuisine very different from the venues of Horsham.

“I’m not too sure, I’ll probably try it,” Ross joked.

“But I’m a bit more of a pasta man.”