When he manages to get out on the track at Aegis Park for training, the memories of a torturous rehabilitation program fade a little each time.
If you look closely enough, you’ll probably see a wry smile on his face because the line-breaking midfielder is literally jumping out of his skin in anticipation of playing football again after close to a year on the sidelines.
"I'm desperate to get back out there. I can't wait to see how the body goes and see how much better I feel out there. I'm nervous and anxious, but at the same time I'm very excited," Ross told kangaroos.com.au.
Talent has never been an issue for Ross. In fact he has averaged a more than respectable 15 possessions a game since his debut. However he's only managed to play 14 games and that's perhaps what is most damning.
Ross onto the scene with 21 disposals against Port Adelaide back in 2008, but a wretched run of injuries including a recent a debilitating hip and groin injury, has restricted him from fulfilling his potential.
With his trademark dash nowhere to be seen, Ross struggled to make an impact and was forced to seek an urgent remedy in order to resurrect his career.
"It was about October…November 2009 before our 2010 season that I started to get sore in the groins and hip. We managed it pretty well and I was coping pretty well with it. I'd pull up sore, but it would be gone after a day or so and I'd go again,” Ross recalled.
"Once the practice matches started coming around the recovery process was taking longer and longer and it was game-to-game where I was still sore. I just had no pace, no power, I couldn't sprint and I couldn't change direction."
Midway through the year, Ross was forced to make a hard call; go in for surgery and bring about a premature end to the season.
"It was a bit of a hit or miss sort of thing. I could keep going and try and get back in the team because I did have a pretty good pre-season, but the other thing was, I was being affected by the problem and it was probably going to get worse."
Following surgery, the long and lonely road to recovery begun and it was difficult to take for the 22 year-old.
"It's been frustrating mentally being out for so long," he said.
"Even though I was still contracted, I had those times where I thought 'I just can't see this getting any better.'
"Once you actually get to start running and get on the track it's a slow process and after that you've got to deal with all the soreness of all the other muscles that haven't worked for 12 months. There's a lot to deal with and it's a long, slow process...."
Little by little, edging closer to that long-awaited return, the number 15 emerged from his first real test with flying colours.
"I trained last week in the main session and got through it really well…I didn't feel behind. In terms of speed and kicking I felt pretty good.
"I pulled up pretty sore. I had general soreness in all my leg muscles, but that's a good feeling. I'm ready to go again this week at the main session and hopefully into the games next week."
Director of Sports Science & Conditioning Peter Mulkearns says Ross is progressing well but he'll be eased in to aid his rehabilitation.
"He's tracking very well. He's in full skills at the moment. He's basically just completing a pre-season. His pre-season was just a little bit delayed as he was recovering from last year," Mulkearns said.
"The whole aim is to try and get him pain free and symptom free. It won't happen straight away…it gradually regresses but as of training on Monday, which he completed a very solid session, he didn't have any symptoms…he was fine."
North's final NAB Challenge match is out of the question for Ross, but he's likely to get a chance at VFL level soon, albeit with limited game time.
"He's really hitting the track very hard. He's putting a lot of miles into his legs and he'll be ready sooner rather than later. Probably in the next two or three weeks he'll have his first hit-out," Mulkearns added.
Adamant he’ll get back to his best, Ross is under no illusions about what lies ahead in 2011.
"I'm in my fifth year now, so it's no hiding that it's a big year for me. I'm obviously not going to be playing my best football straight away unless things go really well. My aim is just to build up and really hit top gear in the second half of the year.
"Hopefully I can play a decent chunk of games in the senior side and show my worth."
