Written by the Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger, published November 16 2016
LUKE Ryan’s had completed a full VFL pre-season at Essendon when he was whisked into Matthew Egan’s office.
The message on the eve of this season hurt deeply. The damaging half-back was told his contested ball wasn’t great and preference would be given to AFL-listed players most weeks.
Ryan, 20, was cut from the squad. Ten dazzling Coburg games later and he is the hottest mature-age draft prospect in the land.
Every club bar GWS and Carlton has interviewed Ryan, some multiple times and a few at his house.
One recruiter says Ryan is the best player in the VFL, WAFL and SANFL.
Ryan reads the play like a picture book and flies across packs for marks with punctuality.
Coburg coach Peter German says he plays in the Nick Maxwell mould, perhaps with a better kick.
Ryan recorded a disposal efficiency of 86 per cent this season and believes he’s more in the ilk of Western Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood.
And German believes Ryan might not be alone, hoping elite runner Robbie Fox and “young Shane Mumford” Tom Goodwin are also considered by clubs.
After Essendon’s rejection, Coburg couldn’t invite Ryan to join its squad quick enough and sold the club’s ability to develop players after pushing Adam Saad (Gold Coast) and Michael Hartley (Essendon) into the system.
Ryan, a seven-time best-and-fairest winner, sparkled in two reserves games and made his senior debut against Box Hill.
That day he took 12 marks — seven intercepts and four contested — in a best-afield display.
Two years after Ryan played TAC Cup with Touk Miller, Peter Wright and Jake Lever, it was clear he was about to arrive.
Luke Ryan starred in the VFL this year.
This year’s VFL Rising Star winner quickly showed an ability to shut down players defensively and pick off opposition plays, and German wanted to see what else was in the repertoire.
As the season evolved, Ryan received a licence to run. It was his game against Werribee that pleased German most.
“You couldn’t get the ball past Luke that day,” German said.
“I watched the game back from the behind-the-goal vision, and predominantly watched him.
“His decision-making to know when to drop off at the right time and to get to the ball and set up re-entry and scoring attack was (impressive).
“To me he was so coachable. The more we gave him, the more he showed.”
German had bolder plans for Ryan at the tail of the season — to test him through the midfield and see if he could replicate his contested marking tricks as a third forward in attack.
Ryan had bravely featured in the best players in about three games when bone bruising should have forced him out, but still had his year cut short.
Ryan broke his collarbone, an injury still keeping him out of work as a carpenter.
Coburg is unsure how large Ryan’s motor can grow because he spent the summer at Essendon, but has high hopes.
As for his character? German says Ryan is no robot, but his ability to think for himself is a strength.
“He knew he had to mature, and he has,” German said.
“He knew that AFL football is now just as much about character as it is talent. Clubs don’t want anyone in that’s going to rock the boat.”
Ryan’s lifestyle was a recurring question from clubs. It perplexed him, and he told them as much.
“I’ve heard from AFL clubs that I had the party boy nickname. I honestly don’t have any idea where I got that from,” Ryan said.
“I was just an 18-year-old kid. Yeah, Touk Miller and that might have done the extras. But mum never let me out”
PICK ME: LUKE RYAN
AGE: 20
HEIGHT: 185cm
WEIGHT: 87kg
CLUB: Coburg Lions VFL
POSITION: Half-back flank
SUPERCOACH AVG: 105pts
PLAYS LIKE: Easton Wood/Nick Maxwell
PREDICTED DRAFT RANGE: 19-50
IN THE MIX: Sydney (19, 46), Western Bulldogs (26, 50), Port Adelaide (30, 31), North Melbourne (32, 33), Richmond (27)
