Luke Ryan’s extraordinary debut season in the VFL has been topped off, having being drafted in tonight’s NAB National Draft by at pick 66 by the Fremantle Dockers!
The 20-year-old, who only secured his VFL contract just under a fortnight before the beginning of the season, and despite having only managed 10 senior VFL games in 2016, was being touted to go as early as the second round upon receiving his invite to the annual National Combine.
Despite suffering from a season ending shoulder injury, Luke’s ten VFL matches were still enough for him to earn recognition amongst the VFL- winning the Fothergill-Round Medal and a spot in the VFL Team of the Year, while he was also awarded the Phil Cleary Award as the clubs best first year player in season 2016.
After walking out on Calder midway through 2015, he would spend the remainder of the season with the EDFL’s Maribyrnong Park where the Cannons had discovered him in 2014, resulting in a midseason listing that year. However, his Maribyrnong Park form was good enough to attract the attention of some VFL clubs, ultimately choosing Essendon as his preferred destination for 2016.
However, it resulted in him failing to be listed, with AFL players taking his preference over his designated position and place on the list.
Coburg List & Recruiting Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo, who coached Ryan at Moonee Valley in 2013, called him the day before the Lions played a Development Practice match against the Northern Blues at IKON Park, as the Lions needed reinforcements due to an injury hit squad. Spagnuolo gave him one final chance to play as a top up, and see for himself as to whether or not Piranha Park was the right place for him to play VFL in 2016. On Easter Monday, he signed…and he’s never looked back.
After a best on ground performance in the round 2 Development League win, he then proceeded to make his league debut in round 3 against the Box Hill Hawks. The Lions went down gallantly by 8 points- however it was Ryan’s day. He would establish himself as a key component of the side, and would also star in the first Lion win of the season against Essendon. Despite an ankle injury against the Northern Blues in round seven, he returned in round twelve against Werribee- where he controlled the game off halfback that day at Avalon Airport Oval. He backed it up with strong performances against Footscray, Sandringham and Williamstown- however his season was brought to an end with a shoulder injury in round 18 against Collingwood. Despite the early finish to the season, it was still enough for Ryan to be recognized among the VFL’s elite for season 2016.
Coburg General Manager Craig Lees was delighted with the outcome of tonight’s result.
“We are thrilled that Luke has been taken in the National Draft, it is a credit to his work ethic and determination to make the transition. We know Luke was able to flourish within our environment which has given him this opportunity to be listed by Fremantle. It’s a credit to all our staff and Luke himself. For the football club to have three years of consecutive players drafted is a real credit to the environment we are creating at Coburg, and we wish Luke all the best with his future and if he can demonstrate the impact he had with Coburg in 2016, we are sure he will have an immediate impact at AFL level like our past players Saad, and Hartley.”
We wish Luke all the best with his AFL aspirations and look forward to establishing himself as an AFL Senior Footballer.
