Tim Michell, Moreland Leader, published 25th November 2016
TEN games after he was cut from Essendon’s VFL squad, Luke Ryan is an AFL player.
The former Calder Cannon was trimmed from the Bombers’ list on the eve of the VFL season before a call from Coburg changed his life forever.
Rated as one of the top state league draft prospects, Ryan fielded interest from 16 clubs before the draft and was mooted as a possible first-round selection.
The 20-year-old defender had a nervous wait on draft night before joining Fremantle with pick No.66.
Ryan has not put a foot wrong since joining Coburg and became the 11th winner of the VFL’s Fothergill-Round Medal to graduate to the AFL when he was chosen by the Dockers.
“We give Luke a big tick for his character and his footy ability is as good as there is,” Coburg general manager Craig Lees said pre-draft.
Ryan joins fellow defenders Michael Hartley (Essendon) and Adam Saad (Gold Coast) on the list of recent Coburg draftees.
His 2016 campaign was cut short by shoulder surgery, but Ryan is expected to be fit in time for the AFL pre-season competition.
Coburg coach Peter German said Ryan — whose playing style has been compared to Easton Wood — has matured considerably since joining the Lions.
“He takes a great mark overhead, reads the play really well, good ball handler, great decision maker, can defend as well,” German said in July.
“We’ve been able to get him into some of the roles that really suit the attributes that he’s got and that is really helping him but it’s also helping the team.”
