Ross Thornton - a former Fitzroy Best & Fairest who played 146 games with the Club between 1980-1989 - has joined forces with his daughter Tarryn, a Victorian State basketballer, to take on the popular TV challenge.
The competitive pair will be one of only 11 teams from across the country vying to win a race around the world.
"When I played footy it was all about winning. Second best was not good enough. I'm 55 now, still fit and only a couple of kilos heavier than my playing weight. I want to prove I've still got it," Thornton said of his participation in the TV series.
Thornton said that while both he and Tarryn were in good shape heading into the race, there was bound to be some tension between them considering their competitive sporting backgrounds.
“I’m sure there will be disagreements,” Ross said. “Tarryn thinks she knows best. But I know I know best!”
“I fear nothing except what might come out of my daughter’s mouth.”
In this week’s Blast from the Past feature on lions.com.au, Thornton expressed his enjoyment from the whole experience, but remained tight-lipped on further details.
CLICK HERE to show your support for Ross and Tarryn by ‘liking’ them on the official Amazing Race Australia website.
ROSS THORNTON PLAYING PROFILE
Fitzroy (1980-89)
Club Games: 146
Club Goals: 26
Thornton arrived at the Fitzroy Football Club from Camperdown in 1975, but was unable to make the senior team so joined VFA club Prahran.
He returned to Fitzroy in 1980, making his senior debut in Round 3 against North Melbourne and became a regular fixture in their defence for the rest of the decade, usually occupying a back pocket from where he liked to run the ball up the ground.
He was Fitzroy's Vice Captain for three years and won the Club's Best and Fairest in 1984.
He Captained Fitzroy on twelve occasions for six wins with the climax of his career coming when he led Fitzroy out onto Waverley for the 1986 Elimination Final against Essendon, a match the Club famously went on to win by a single point.
In his final season, Thornton played alongside his long time team-mates Leon Harris, Michael Conlan, Mark Scott and Graham Osborne in the 1989 Reserves Premiership team.
Following his retirement from the VFL, Thornton spent a brief stint back at Prahran as Captain-Coach, before returning to Fitzroy as an Assistant Coach and Team Manager up until the 1996 merger.
