Chrisrocks53
10th December 2007, 11:58
#29 - Ryan Cook
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o43/brent_463/cookie.jpg?t=1197253925
Fast Facts
Jumper No: 29
Height: 186cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 16 February 1988
Recruited From: Rosebud/Dandenong U18
Career Matches: 3
Career Goals: 0 (career matches/goals at the end of the 2007 season)
2007 Home & Away Totals
Matches: 3
Goals: 0
Marks: 9
Disposals: 31
Kicks: 17
About
Cook spent his first season at the club playing for VFL affiliate Williamstown, and started slowly in the midfield before being moved forward where he found his spot. Booted five goals against Sandringham in round nine to show his true ability, but his season was interrupted by a couple of injuries. Lively player with good pace and excellent endurance, will be looking to push hard for senior selection in 2007.
Records
Draft History
2005 AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Collingwood) No. 23 overall.
Debut
Round 18, 2007 v Carlton @ MCG
Chrisrocks53
10th December 2007, 12:07
Cook's time finally comes
Thu 2 August, 2007
Ryan Cook spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au after being told he will make his AFL debut against Carlton this Saturday at the MCG.
The 19-year-old, a hard-running midfielder from Rosebud on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, was told of the news by senior coach Mick Malthouse on Wednesday afternoon.
“Mick came up to me after training, and said he’d like to have a chat at the end of the day,” Cook explained.
“So I went into his office, and after hearing the news, I came out all smiles.”
Selected from the Dandenong Stingrays with the 23rd overall pick in the 2005 AFL Draft, behind team mates Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury and Danny Stanley, Cook has watched eight fellow youngsters, including Stanley, pull on the Collingwood jumper for the first time this season.
But it hasn’t been a major focus of his to get selected for the Magpies. Instead, he’s been devoted to performing strongly each week for the club’s VFL affiliate Williamstown, although watching his mates go so well at their first crack at AFL footy has given him a spur.
“Senior selection has never really popped into my head. I’ve simply been worried about knuckling down and playing well for Williamstown.”
“I guess seeing them (the eight debutants) run around, their performances have made me proud, and if anything it’s made me want to get out there and do just as well.”
When he speaks of “knuckling down”, Cook, who will be the 1070th player ever to pull on the famous Collingwood guernsey, explains that much of his development can be attributed to the assistance he’s received from friend and team mate Tarkyn Lockyer.
“Tarks has been great, and his good form has been rubbing off on me I think.
“I lived with him for the first few months I was down here at the club, and he’s helped me a lot ever since. He’s taken me under his wing in a way, been a bit of a father-figure to me, and worked with me on touch, weights and skills each week.”
Now, with his first AFL appearance only days away, news has spread to Cook’s family and friends, many of whom live on the Peninsula, and who he says are nearly as excited as he is.
“They’re all over the moon, but they can’t be more excited than me. They want to hire a bus and come to the MCG together from Rosebud. They want a whole bay to themselves.”
Snag Breac
2nd January 2008, 14:05
Where is Cook on the list? How's he shaping up? He's a player I don't know much about.
Chrisrocks53
3rd January 2008, 20:28
Where is Cook on the list? How's he shaping up? He's a player I don't know much about.
Well Cooky provide a typical HBF role for willy in some games last year, in which he'd rack up 30+ Possies in a few of them.
He provided alot of consistency, then was offered a game late in the year for the Pies and from what I saw of him at the games I went, he had quite good skills and maybe a chance of moving into a midfield role.
If he were to provide this kind of same consistency, he may get more AFL game time and might cement a spot if the need arises.
Hes had two full pre seasons and was selected as an under age player, so the benefits will defiantly show this year.
and hes defiantly putting in the hard yards, heres a photo from the latest pre season training
http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/Portals/0/_HI_0244.jpg
Dazman
10th January 2008, 18:29
Yeah he's looking alright. Will come of age this year IMO.
He's well known for his fitness, tests as one of the best at the club and this is through determination and work ethic. He was criticised for not being hard enough at the contest and that was the reason for sending him to the HBF (drafted as a HFF/midfielder) down at Willi.
I think he could end up being a tagger. Will be good to see him grab his opporunities and provide some competition for the older stalwarts at the club like O'Bree and Holland.