Brad Thomas-Rantall balancing football and jockey career

The 23-year-old, who does track work full-time for Lindsey Smith and races for Tony Rosolini's stable, is playing football at Dennington for the first time since his junior days at South Warrnambool.

Thomas-Rantall, who plays on the wing in the Dogs' senior side, said football was beneficial for his jockey career.

"It works in contrast well. Football helps with my cardio and helps me keep my weight down and my fitness up," he said.

"That shows on the track as well because you have got to be fit and to ride well so both work really well.

"I train Tuesday, Thursdays and play on Saturday for football and then the other days I'm in Rudy's gym doing boxing every night trying to keep my weight down as I'm quite big (six foot) for a jockey so I obviously do have to cut a bit but this relieves the pressure of that."

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The father-of-one, who is raising 17-month-old Archie with fiancé Ellie, said his friend and Dogs' senior coach Ben Thornton had convinced him to return to the footy field.

"It's my first year in a long time as I have been overseas and use to play at South Warrnambool in the juniors and when I came back he talked me into coming over so I thought why not have a run around," he said.

"I was a little rusty and still am. It's a good group of boys so I get some good support and that makes it easy to build confidence to get back into it."

Thomas-Rantall, who has played three senior and two reserves games this Warrnambool and District league season, said the social side of football was what he missed in his time away from the game.

"I like just having a kick with mates and playing with a few friends and having that social side away from racing and having another outlet other than racing because it can consume you if you don't," he said.

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The Warrnambool-based hoop said he was not worried about getting injured on the football field.

"You cant wrap yourself in bubble wrap," he said. "It's the same with horse racing. It's a dangerous sport and if your thinking about when you're going to fall, you're going to fall.

"You don't think about that kind of stuff you just keep positive and keep working. It's a good fun club up here and it's a good way to lose weight and keep fit without sitting in a sauna and doing that kind of stuff."

Thomas-Rantall said this jumps season had been his best so far.

"I have had two winners one for Simon Ryan and one for Tony Rosolini, who has given me great support throughout the whole year and my whole career," he said.

"I started a new full-time job with Lindsey (Smith) at the start of the year and he has been great to me.

"Having a mentor in Shane Jackson, who is recently retired but is one of the best jumps jockeys Australia has seen in years, and having that support behind me really helps."

Thomas-Rantall said playing on a wing suited him because he is fit, can run all day and the position is good for his fitness.

Dennington were to play South Rovers on Saturday but round eight was scrapped due to the state-wide coronavirus lockdown.

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