Liam Ryan

DOB

2/10/96

Height

184cm

Weight

76 kg

Junior club

Subiaco/Geraldton Rovers JFC

Arrived

Pick 26 in the 2017 national draft

Number

1

Debut

Round 1 2018 vs Sydney
(235th Eagles player)

Games

105

Goals

136

Honours

Premiership medal (2018)
All-Australian (2020)
Mark of the Year (2019)

B&F Top 10

3 (2019, 2020, 2022)

Best Finish

6th (2020)

Other clubs

Subiaco (WAFL) 2016-2017
East Perth (WAFL) 2018

Excitement machine Liam Ryan was West Coast's third selection in the 2017 draft, and played in a premiership in his first season.

West Coast career[]

Originally from Geraldton, Ryan burst onto the WAFL scene in 2016 when he kicked 40 goals for Subiaco and put in several efforts for Mark of the Year. Surprisingly overlooked in the draft, he followed up with a league-leading 73 goals in 2017 while putting at ease questions about his maturity and work ethic.

Picked to debut in Round 1, Ryan quickly became a fan favourite, kicking seven goals in his first three matches before suffering an ankle injury. After an extended layoff he returned to the side briefly before an early-morning car crash that resulted in drink driving charges and a stint with East Perth. Ryan regained his senior spot late in the season and rediscovered his electrifying ways, becoming a part of the Eagles' premiership side.

Ryan started the 2019 season in strong form, playing further up the ground with his defensive efforts and tackling pressure particularly notable. He took Mark of the Year over ruckman Max Gawn late in a clash against Melbourne, with his subsequent goal putting West Coast ahead in a close contest. Ryan, who played every game for the year, added a second MotY contender late in the season, hurling himself back with the flight of the ball into an oncoming pack against Carlton, and was rewarded at the end of the year with a top-ten finish in the John Worsfold Medal count.

His rapid improvement continued in 2020, with Ryan earning All-Australian selection with a superb season in which he kicked 26 goals and was one of the league leaders in score involvements. Unfortunately, he failed to continue that momentum, ending up as one of a number of Eagles who were down on form in 2021. 2022 was not much better, although Ryan did finish in the top ten of the best and fairest despite some patchy form.

Ryan's 2023 was over almost before it began, with the high-flying forward injuring himself in a marking attempt during the chaos of the early-season Derby. Originally thought to be a knee injury, it later transpired that he had suffered tendon damage to his hamstring, and complications prevented him from returning for the rest of the season and delayed his start to 2024. On his return, Ryan seemed to struggle to find confidence in his body, although it held up and he was even able to move into the midfield on occasion.

Stats[]

AFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T	Cl	WAFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T
2018	13	20	15	113	37	37	150	25	6	EP	3	5	3	20	5	3	23	14
2019	24	30	19	211	72	70	281	51	18	WCE	0
2020	18	26	16	140	66	54	194	32	7	N/A
2021	14	24	10	116	55	28	144	21	6	WCE	0
2022	17	19	12	153	71	34	187	39	8		1	2	0	7	7	5	12	1
2023	3	4	1	30	15	9	39	11	1		0
2024	16	13	11	143	68	57	200	27	15		2	0	2	29	7	7	36	5
Tot	105	136	84	906	384	289	1195	206	61
Avg		1.3		8.6	3.7	2.8	11.4	2.0	0.6

Tribunal record[]

Year	Rd	Charge	Outcome
2018	20	Instigating a melee	Accepted $1,500 fine
2019	1	Striking D.Gardiner (BRI)	Accepted $1,500 fine
2021	15	Rough conduct against J.Johannisen (WB)	Accepted 1-week suspension
2022	22	Striking B.Walker (Fre)	Accepted $2,000 fine
2022	22	Engaging in melee	Accepted $1,000 fine