Before Flyin’ Ryan, there was Flyin’ Ryan’s dad and remarkably West Coast star Liam Ryan’s father Darren is still soaring in the Great Northern region.
And even at the age of 48 Ryan Sr, a former Claremont player and twice winner of the Great Northern Football League’s best-and-fairest award, is still adding to a career highlight reel of hangers.
Last week, while playing for Three Springs in the North Midlands Football League, the man known to most as “Snotty” took a classic screamer in a gripping final term.
Not only did it help Three Springs celebrate their first win of the season, he did so on the day of their centenary celebrations and over league-leading Mingenew.
“As you can imagine, it was a pretty exciting occasion to get to 100 years, even moreso after a year of not having a side, so the crowd was larger than usual with locals, past players and life members lining the ground,” photographer Kylie Dennis said.
“The atmosphere around the ground was electric, with everyone hoping the Bombers could hang on and get the win as the icing on the cake.
“Snotty then took an absolute hanger in the fourth quarter, using opponent Brett ‘Beetle’ Broad as a step-ladder as he catapulted into the stratosphere.
“The roar of the crowd was something else and it got people on their feet as the Bombers charged toward the final siren. They pulled off an absolute upset.”
Reports suggested Ryan Sr, fourth all-time on the GNFL goal-kickers list with 618, had some words of consolation for the younger Broad after the big grab, telling him, “Don’t worry young fella, you’re not the first that’s happened to”.
Great Northern football identity Greg “Jock” O’Malley – a former teammate and opponent of Ryan Sr – said it was impossible to pick the best mark of his career. I have liked his longevity to that of East Fremantle legend Brian Peake.
“You could pick any one of 30 … he’s a freak,” O’Malley said. “He’s the Brian Peake of the North Midlands.”
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