The 22-year-old was taken with pick 26 at the AFL Rookie Draft after a standout season with the club’s VFL team in 2013.
“Putting all that hard work in and sticking at it just shows that if you don’t get drafted when you are 18 you still have a chance,” Ambrose said.
“I guess it proves that if you work hard enough, you can get there.”
A hard running, athletic key position player, Ambrose is expected to be able to play senior football if called upon in 2014.
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Despite having contact with the club in recent days, Ambrose said it was still a surprise when he received a call from List Manager Adrian Dodoro this morning to officially welcome him to the Bombers.“I have been training all summer, and working on my kicking a fair bit. I had a few meetings with the recruiters but there are just so many people going for a spot so that makes it hard to know if you are going to get picked,” he said.
“It is unbelievable. Playing in the VFL this year, I was always working towards getting an opportunity in the AFL, but to finally get there is amazing.”
Ambrose did not play at TAC Cup level, instead developing his game in the Victorian Amateur Football Association with Old Xaverians before joining Essendon’s VFL side in 2013.
VFL Coach Hayden Skipworth said it was pleasing to see Ambrose being rewarded for his perseverance.
“He has speed, endurance, power and plays that high half forward role,” Skipworth said.
“He played the last seven games of VFL at a really high level and I can see him fitting in really nicely to the forward line.”
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