Liam Ryan was the complete package when he came across from West Coast in the off season, one of those players who aren't big enough to be considered a key forward but can compete in the air like few others, plus the finishing skills to make his rare disposals count. You could debate the worth of adding him to a list that hasn't been in finals contention for a while. Should the Saints have committed to a full rebuild rather than topping up with the likes of Ryan, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni? Ross Lyon always thinks his sides are good enough to compete. Who can tell him?
Liam Ryan was the complete package when he came across from West Coast in the off season, one of those players who aren't big enough to be considered a key forward but can compete in the air like few others, plus the finishing skills to make his rare disposals count. You could debate the worth of adding him to a list that hasn't been in finals contention for a while. Should the Saints have committed to a full rebuild rather than topping up with the likes of Ryan, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni? Ross Lyon always thinks his sides are good enough to compete. Who can tell him?
Liam Ryan is the sort of bloke who will jump over a crowd of children to get a Mintie, and if he had hung onto half of the pack marks he flew for in 2020 he'd be a fantasy superstar. It's all about quality over quantity with him, which is not traditionally the stuff of premium fantasy assets. The Eagles nonetheless provide a lot of ball on the outside for their runners and with the forward line lacking a bit in small crumbers the team has come to rely on him for run and carry as well at times, leading to some startables scores. He is a boom-bust type, usable only for daily fantasy.
Sighing over Ryan's highlights
Putting his previous off-field problems behind him, Liam Ryan delivered his first full slate of senior games for West Coast in 2019 and booted a respectable 26.18 from an average of 12 possessions, goalless just four times. While he is noted for his high-flying aerial prowess, his mark rate is only three as he stays deep and goes for many more than he gets jumping over big packs. As a fan of football in general, you have to enjoy the way Ryan plays his footy, as if his main job in life is to spring on his mate's back as they play kick to kick in the schoolyard. Fantasy coaches want a bit more out of a player than one mark of the year candidate every week, and unless he is told to roam up the ground for uncontested ball he's not going to be fantasy relevant.
Eagles rely on Ryan
Not since Phil Matera has there been an Eagle who measured so small yet played so tall. Liam Ryan has earned the nickname Flyin' Ryan, and while he couldn't repeat the 73 goals he booted in the WAFL in 2017, he was first choice for West Coast on their flag run despite a bad ankle injury and a minor alcohol-adjacent car crash. He had a few more off-field issues in the off season. Like a lot of small forwards in the AFL these days, Ryan stays where he starts for the most part and doesn't participate much at all in midfield accumulation. The 6-6-6 rule is only going to exacerbate that trend for players like him as he will be tasked with attacking the goalface, which means he is the type whom you can sit back and watch for enjoyment rather than fantasy purposes.
Ryan is a nailer of goals
Booting 73.35 for Subiaco got Liam Ryan the Bernie Naylor medal and a spot on the Eagles roster, though he didn't do much other than hit the scoreboard. He went at rates of 13.5 disposals and 78 fantasy points, scoring a goal with 28% of his kicks. West Coast needed him last season as they never found anyone to replace Josh Hill. If Ryan fits the bill, he could a low end starter off the free agent pool when playing lesser clubs but with that terrible level of accumulation it would be too risky to draft him.
