Lionel Ryan
Footscray
AFL career
32 games12 goals
- Debut
- R13 1954 v RCH24 July 1954
- Most recent
- R4 1957 v ESS11 May 1957
Stats
Bio
A plucky, flame-haired rover recruited from Woomelang, Lionel Ryan is remembered as the hard-luck story of Footscray’s historic 1954 premiership. Known for his robust, straight-ahead attack on the ball and ability to kick long goals, Ryan was among the best players in the Bulldogs’ Second Semi-Final win over Geelong but was controversially omitted from the Grand Final side to accommodate the return of captain-coach Charlie Sutton. He served as the emergency for the flag triumph and played three more seasons at the Western Oval before moving to the Ovens & Murray League, where he became a premiership player with Yarrawonga. Ryan is the grandfather of dual premiership Swan and Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O'Keefe.
Profile
- Born
- 13 May 1935
- Died
- 06 Sept 2022 (aged 87y 116d)
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 86 kg
Teams
Family
- Grandson:Ryan O'Keefe
Bio
1 revisionA plucky, flame-haired rover recruited from Woomelang, Lionel Ryan is remembered as the hard-luck story of Footscray’s historic 1954 premiership. Known for his robust, straight-ahead attack on the ball and ability to kick long goals, Ryan was among the best players in the Bulldogs’ Second Semi-Final win over Geelong but was controversially omitted from the Grand Final side to accommodate the return of captain-coach Charlie Sutton. He served as the emergency for the flag triumph and played three more seasons at the Western Oval before moving to the Ovens & Murray League, where he became a premiership player with Yarrawonga. Ryan is the grandfather of dual premiership Swan and Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O'Keefe.