Australian Football

Reg Ryan was an imperturbably solid defender who struggled to make his mark at North Melbourne, where he played just three games in 1939-40. He therefore decided to lower his sights, and the 1941 season saw him playing for Williamstown in the VFA. He enjoyed a fine year, giving rise to Collingwood’s coming knocking at his door the following year. However, once again he struggled to have much of an impact, playing just half a dozen VFL games before giving football away for the time being because of the war.

In 1945, he resumed with Williamstown, and once again shone, culminating in a near best afield performance at full back in the Seagulls’ 16.21 to 10.20 grand final defeat of Port Melbourne. His excellent season persuaded North Melbourne to give him another chance at the game’s elite level, and on this occasion he seized the opportunity with both hands, going on to play 63 VFL games between 1946 and 1950. His last appearance with the Kangaroos was the 1950 grand final, their first, against Essendon, when he lined up at centre half back. Over the course of his entire 72 game senior VFL career Ryan failed to register a single goal.

In 1952 he returned to the VFA after assuming the captain-coaching reins at Preston, but he failed to see out the season, playing just 10 games.

Author - John Devaney