These days the teenager is racking up plenty of bicep curls, squats, leg press and more as a competitor on the bodybuilding circuit.

Mid-April is when Ban next flexes on stage at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association contest as Moonee Valley Racing Club.

The 18-year-old will be in the teen bodybuilding division.

After hundreds of hours training and flexing, Ban’s debut was in novice physique at an INBA event last September.

Since then he has put a lot of time working on weak and strong points in his physique.

“There’s always a lot to learn and a lot of challenges,” Ban said of training and dieting.

He spends between 20 and 25 hours per week on a mixture of cardio and weights.

Ban’s weight training stepped up markedly when he was 15.

“I started going to gym to build strength for footy.”

In 2014, Ban moved to Bendigo as a member of the Pioneers footy program.

“Weight training was done at school and it really kicked on from there” he said of his time at Bendigo Senior Secondary College and being in AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup under-18 program.

When not studying at BSSC or training for footy, Ban was doing workouts at Feelgood Fitness in Golden Square or at Doherty’s Gym in Bendigo.

It’s been a remarkable transformation from 67kg to 82kg as well as the definition and symmetry which are strong points in any contest.

Last year, Ban made a call on deciding to drop footy after three rounds of the Sunraysia Football League season in favour of bodybuilding.

“It was a tough call, but I believe I can go further in bodybuilding than AFL.”

Genetics are a huge plus for Ethan as his dad, Richard competed in powerlifting.

“The support from my parents, Richard and Alison, from workmates and clients at Fit Mildura, family and friends is incredible.”