Wikipedia

Luke Ryan

For the English cricketer, see Luke Ryan (cricketer).

Luke Ryan (born 6 February 1996) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A versatile player Ryan is a Doig Medalist as well as a dual All-Australian.

Luke Ryan
Ryan playing for Fremantle in 2019
Personal information
Full name Luke Ryan
Date of birth (1996-02-06) 6 February 1996 (age 28)
Original team(s) Coburg (VFL)/Calder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 66, 2016 AFL draft
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club Fremantle
Number 13
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017– Fremantle 155 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early career

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Originally from the Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale, Ryan played junior football for Aberfeldie, Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong Park in the Essendon District Football League, as well as some games for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup.[1] He then played for the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 2016, winning the Fothergill–Round Medal as the most promising young player in the league.[2] In 2017, he was awarded the Simpson Medal for the best player on ground during Peel Thunders victory over Subiaco in the West Australian Football League grand final.[3]

AFL career

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He was recruited as a mature age player to Fremantle with their third selection, 66th overall, in the 2016 AFL draft.[4] He made his AFL debut in round 11 of the 2017 AFL season against Collingwood at Domain Stadium, after playing well for Fremantle's reserves team, Peel Thunder, in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).[5]

Ryan received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 20 after gaining 28 possessions and taking 16 marks in the Dockers' 23-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at Domain Stadium.[6] Ryan also received two votes in the 2017 Brownlow Medal from this round 20 match. Ryan kicked his first AFL goal in round 13 of the 2018 season during Fremantle's 57 point win over Carlton.

Luke Ryan was awarded the Beacon Award for the best first year player during the 2017 AFL season. An outstanding performance throughout the 2020 AFL season would see Ryan win the Doig Medal and named in the 2020 All-Australian team.[7]

The 2021 AFL season saw Ryan play 19 games, missing three games due to injury, and finishing sixth in the Fremantle Dockers best and fairest.[8]

Ryan played all 22 games during the 2022 AFL season, a career best, as well as in Fremantle's two finals appearances.[9] A highlight of his season being his 32 disposal effort against the Western Bulldogs in round 21.[10] Ryan played his 100th game during round 16 against Port Adelaide.[11] Ryan was among Fremantle's best during their elimination final win over the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, collecting 31 disposals and a game-high 25 kicks.[12] He signed a four-year contract extension at the end of the season tying him to Fremantle until at least 2027.[13]

Round one of the 2023 AFL season saw Ryan gather a game high 37 disposals against St Kilda.[14] He was one of Fremantle's best players in round 20 during their 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park collecting 28 disposals.[15] He finished the season ranked elite in marks, kicks and metres gained by Champion Data.[16]

Ryan collected 33 disposals and ten marks in Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions,[17] and 23 disposals the next week against North Melbourne. He collected 27 disposals against Adelaide and was an integral part of Fremantle's defense helping to keep the crows star forwards goalless.[18] As of the mid-season bye he was ranked elite in disposals, spoils, kicks, kicking efficiency, marks, rebound 50s and meters gained.[19] He played his 150th game in round 19 against Melbourne during Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game, and in doing so earned himself a life membership at the Dockers.[20] He was named at back pocket in the 2024 All-Australian team at the season's end.

Family

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Luke is the cousin of Brisbane Lions tall Brandon Ryan.[21]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of 2023[22]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017 Fremantle 38 11 0 0 120 55 175 69 44 0.0 0.0 10.9 5.0 15.9 6.3 4.0 2
2018 Fremantle 38 20 2 1 260 102 362 131 43 0.1 0.1 13.0 5.1 18.1 6.6 2.2 0
2019 Fremantle 38 18 1 0 263 105 368 94 47 0.1 0.0 14.6 5.8 20.4 5.2 2.6 5
2020[a] Fremantle 13 17 0 0 251 65 316 88 20 0.0 0.0 14.8 3.8 18.6 5.2 1.2 6
2021 Fremantle 13 19 0 0 332 82 414 136 34 0.0 0.0 17.5 4.3 21.8 7.2 1.8 3
2022 Fremantle 13 24 0 1 403 116 519 167 45 0.0 0.0 16.8 4.8 21.6 7.0 1.9 3
2023 Fremantle 13 23 0 0 451 100 551 189 50 0.0 0.0 19.6† 4.3 24.0 8.2 2.2 6
2024 Fremantle 13 16 0 1 335 62 397 144 34 0.0 0.1 20.9 3.9 24.8 9.0 2.1 7
Career 132 3 2 2080 625 2705 874 283 0.0 0.0 15.8 4.7 20.5 6.6 2.1 29

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ Cavanagh, Chris (20 July 2016). "Luke Ryan enjoying a stellar season for Coburg in the VFL". Moreland Leader. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  2. ^ Cavanagh, Chris (14 September 2016). "Coburg defender Luke Ryan bound for AFL level after claiming VFL's Fothergill-Round Medal". Moreland Leader. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  3. ^ Lacy, Bridget (25 September 2017). "Negative publicity no motivation for Peel Thunder, says Simpson medallist Luke Ryan". perthnow.
  4. ^ Fee, Tom (25 November 2016). "Freo stand tall at AFL Draft". fremantlefc.com.au.
  5. ^ Quartermaine, Braden (1 June 2017). "Luke Ryan a chance to debut as Dockers drop Danyle Pearce for Collingwood fixture". The West Australian. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  6. ^ McGowan, Marc (7 August 2017). "'A lad' to a Rising Star: Docker makes his mark". BigPond. AFL.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Luke Ryan wins 2020 Doig Medal". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  8. ^ Smith, Doran. "The four players who could make or break Fremantle Dockers in 2022". theroar.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Luke Ryan". footywire.com. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Round 21 Western Bulldogs v Fremantle". westernbulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Fremantle Dockers defender Luke Ryan reflects modestly on 100-game milestone ahead of Port Adelaide clash". thewest.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. ^ Schmook, Nathan. "Purple heart-stopper: Freo gives Dogs the heave-ho after HUGE comeback". afl.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Ryan commits to Freo!". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  14. ^ Healey, Catherine. "Coaches' perfect club debuts; early alarm bells as trio cop fails: AFL Report Card". foxsports. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Match Centre". foxsports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. ^ "'Loud and vocal' energy igniting Fremantle's pre-season".
  17. ^ "A perfect ten for Serong in coaches' votes". fremantlefc.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  18. ^ Schmook, Nathan. "Freo challenged to embrace 'monotony' of season after perfect start". afl.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ "150 of the very best: Luke Ryan".
  20. ^ Robinson, Chris (21 July 2024). "Three-word analysis of every Fremantle Dockers player in home clash with Melbourne". The West Australian.
  21. ^ "Hawks swoop on Brandon Ryan with pick 12". hawthronfc.com.au. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Luke Ryan". AFL Tables. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
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