Entering the doors of his third club following an outstanding career, Patrick Ryder will be relied upon to lead the spoon collectors out of the cellar. The ex-Bomber was forced out of ruck by Scott Lycett to spend greater time forward at Port in 2019, resulting in a five-year low hit out count. However, the veteran was able to lift his goal output, averaging a tick under a goal. Ryder arrived at the Saints to cultivate leadership as much as onfield presence. Now the wrong side of 30, Ryder is likely to provide relief for Rowan Marshall while providing presence in the forward half in place of the departed Josh Bruce. A dominant fantasy scorer in his heyday, those times have long since passed.
Happy trails, Paddy
Entering the doors of his third club following an outstanding career, Patrick Ryder will be relied upon to lead the spoon collectors out of the cellar. The ex-Bomber was forced out of ruck by Scott Lycett to spend greater time forward at Port in 2019, resulting in a five-year low hit out count. However, the veteran was able to lift his goal output, averaging a tick under a goal. Ryder arrived at the Saints to cultivate leadership as much as onfield presence. Now the wrong side of 30, Ryder is likely to provide relief for Rowan Marshall while providing presence in the forward half in place of the departed Josh Bruce. A dominant fantasy scorer in his heyday, those times have long since passed.
Ryder ridden too hard
Port Adelaide really missed Patrick Ryder when his chronic left Achilles problem flared up in 2017, which was most of it as he missed eight games, couldn't finish three and was clearly unfit for the season-ending 1-6 run. This produced his worst fantasy average since before his 2009 breakout. Through it all, the Power managed to lead clearance averages in the league, albeit they were bottom six in differential. The Power coaching staff would be well advised to figure out a way for their midfield to not be so reliant on Ryder, as his body is failing and he's the wrong side of 30. Whether that means he plays as more of a forward/ruck with Scott Lycett as lead is dependent on how quickly the mids can get up to speed on how to rove to the ex-Eagle (or the opposition ruck). With all this uncertainty, Ryder might be available late in your draft.
Ryder high in the saddle
It was a close call, but Patrick Ryder made it to All-Australian ruckman on the back of his best statistical season, one of a number of rucks to enjoy the lack of third men up in 2017. He also benefited from being entrusted with lead ruck duties, reaching an average of 37 hit outs which was ten better than his previous best. Nevertheless, he was beaten by Sam Jacobs in both of last year's Showdowns. Both of Ryder's usual supports in ruck were traded away by the club in the off season, so his spot as undisputed lead ruck makes him a valuable fantasy commodity in a league where committees are always lurking. Rucks are much less valuable in draft leagues with the newly lifted baseline, so he's still only a middle-round pick though a reach based on his very impressive finish to 2017 could be rewarded.
Ryder gets ticket to ruck
Patrick Ryder started his career spending a majority of time in the back line as more of a negating player, unable to show his true potential as a fantasy player averaging only 48 Dream Team points and 63 in Super Coach during 2008.
David Hille's season-ending injury early in 2009 gave him his chance to show what he could do in the ruck, originally being drafted as a ruckman.
Being forced to take the ruck role single-handedly in round 5 vs Collingwood, he managed 16 possessions, 27 hitouts, 13 tackles and a DT score of 120!
Fantasy coaches who jumped on him at the time have been rewarded week in, week out to this day, as since then he has averaged 93 DT points and 99 in SC, jumping more than $130,000 in each fantasy competition!
Whoever had him in that back line since the day they walked into round one may not have realised they had picked up a bargain in disguise.
