Billy Iles had to take the road less travelled to play with Werribee Tigers in the Victorian Football League.
Iles was often told when growing up that he wouldn’t make it at the elite level because of his light body frame and lack of height.
The 175-centimetre, 70-kilogram 20-year- old is adamant his stature cost him a spot at TAC Cup team Calder Cannons in his bottom-age year.
“A lot of it, from what I was told, was height issues and size issues, which I heard a lot of in juniors with rep squads,” he told Star Weekly.
“It didn’t really bother me at the time because I’d heard it all before. It was just more of a driving force to get better.”
Iles was spurred on by the naysayers. The small forward went back to play under-18s at his local club, Airport West, and cracked it for senior selection. Then came an invitation from Werribee from left field.
“I was lucky enough that [talent spotter] Sean Triplett helped bring me down to Werribee,” said Isles, who had to find a TAC Cup club for his top-age under-18 year and lined up a spot at Western Jets.
It was a fruitful move as he played 14 games and was named among the side’s ‘best’ five times. “Playing 14 games in that year was nothing I expected when I looked back to the year before, when I’d played only under-18s and a bit of senior footy at my local club,” he said.
Iles watched the growing trend of AFL clubs selecting smaller players with good results.
Eddie Betts, a lightweight of the big league, is now one of the top players at the Adelaide Crows. Kayne Turner made his North Melbourne debut last season at 67 kilograms, while the Western Bulldogs drafted 167-centimetre tall Caleb Daniel.
“If they can do it, it’s a driving force for me, knowing that’s where you want to go,” said Isles, who hasn’t looked back since Triplett came calling. He returned to the Tigers the next season to become a walk-up starter in the development league squad.
One Thursday night in April of his first season, Iles was back at Airport West watching his former teammates train when he looked online to see the Tigers’ teams for that week.
He was named as the 23rd man in the senior team and could hardly believe it.
“I thought it was a bit of a joke,” he said. “It was only a couple of rounds into the season so it was a bit of a shock to be named 23rd man.”
Iles played three senior games as the 23rd man that year.
This time it wasn’t people telling him he couldn’t do it, but his teammates telling him to back his ability and give it his best shot.
“Playing those three games in my first year gave me a taste of what it was like, what footy was in front of me and what footy I wanted to play.
“I knew I needed to continue to work my butt off to continue playing at that level.”
With a pep in his step, the determined youngster came back the next year and dominated in the seconds, winning the Tigers’ development league best and fairest.
Tigers coach John Lamont rewarded him with a seniors place this season and he made his mark with a stunning six-goal break-out game in a memorable win over Port Melbourne. Iles is not judged on goals alone and his tackle pressure needs to be up to help keep the ball inside Werribee’s attacking 50.
“If the ball comes my way and I’m lucky to get on the end of a few, I’m happy, but all I want to do is contribute to the team and continue playing my role,” Iles said.
Part of that role is to get under the skin of his opponents and he admits to being “a bit of a pest” every now and then.
“I can be a bit chirpy,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s probably not the best thing to do if you’re small.”
Setting himself up for life outside of footy, Isles is studying for a bachelor of sports coaching at Victoria University, with PE teaching a future goal.
We’ll set the record straight here … Iles is no relation to former Collingwood and Gold Coast Suns player Sam Iles, although he has jokingly tried to claim that on several occasions.
But he is a distant relation of Alan Martello, a three-time Hawthorn premiership star of the 1970s, which is probably the reason why he’s a rabid Hawks fan in the AFL.
Streak hits a full stop
Werribee Tigers’ winning streak came to a screeching halt at five after Sandringham Zebras took care of the VFL ladder leader by 40 points at the Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.
With the exception of big man Majak Daw (pictured), the Tigers struggled to find reliable avenues to goal, kicking only eight for the game.
Daw tried to drag the Tigers over the line, booting five goals in an impressive performance that could lead to a recall to the North Melbourne side before too long.
Leigh Adams, Matt Hanson, Jake Wilson and Dylan Reid all fought hard for the Tigers, but the Zebras were too good after half-time, including a stunning six-goals-to-two final term to put the icing on the cake.
The Tigers dropped to fourth on percentage but are equal on points with top side Williamstown. It will be a clash of the two Tiger-nicknamed teams this Saturday when Werribee entertains Richmond at Avalon Airport Oval.
In the development league, Werribee suffered a 55-point loss to Sandringham, leaving them on the bottom of the ladder.
Josh Porter, Will Krithararis and Tom Holman were named ‘best’ for the Tigers.
