#29 - Ryan Cook - 2009

[abs_of_STEELE]

RYAN COOK
Number: 29
Height: 186cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: February 16, 1988
Debut: R18 2007 vs Carlton, MCG
Junior Clubs: Rosebud
Recruited from: Dandenong
2008 Games: 9
2008 Goals: 1
Career Games: 12
Career Goals: 1
​

Ryan Cook was drafted pick no.23 (2nd round selection) in the 2005 AFL Draft by Collingwood as a midfieler/defender and under aged draftee.He played the entire 2006 season with Collingwood's VFL affiliate Williamstown and in 2007 he finally got his chance to debut for Collingwood against Carlton in Round 18. He played another two games that year.

Cook played nine games for Collingwood in 2008, playing the last 4 games of the regular season and both finals. In the Elimination Final against Adelaide, Cook was a great contributor with 21 possesions and 6 marks.

2009 will be Ryan's 4th AFL season and now is the time for Cookie to show everyone what he's got. Cook has proven to be an endurance midfielder/medium defender who could be used as a tagger. With a big pre-season there is no doubt in my mind that he will become a solid contributor to Collingwood in 2009 and beyond.
​

2008 AFL Statistics
Games: 9
Kicks: 71
Avg. Kicks: 8
Handballs: 56
Avg. Handballs: 6
Disposals: 127
Avg. Disposals: 14
Disposal Efficiency: 76%
Contested Possessions: 38
Avg. Contested Possessions: 4
Uncontested Possessions: 89
Avg. Uncontested Possessions: 10
Marks: 39
Avg. Marks: 4
Tackles: 29
Avg. Tackles: 3
Goals: 1
Behinds: 4
Score Assists: 2
TOG: 78%
​

​

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

• A COLLINGWOOD player has been accused of seriously assaulting another man at a function in Sale.

Young midfielder Ryan Cook has been accused of twice punching a man who has since undergone extensive facial surgery.

Collingwood Football Club told Channel 10 news this afternoon that Cook had been provoked and was forced to defend himself.

Detectives from Sale police are investigating the incident, but have yet to speak to the Magpie player.

The club said it and Cook would co-operate with police in the matter.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,25003267-5016169,00.html


Unfortunate for Ryan.

 

[Snag Breac]

Very bad news, abs. Let's hope there are witnesses who can back his story. The world seems to be full of tossers ready to have a go at players. I wonder if that's what's happened here.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Yeah hopefully it all works out for Cookie. Good to see that we're showing confidence in Ryan by naming him in our squad for the WCE game.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Herald Sun-

COLLINGWOOD'S Ryan Cook will play in the VFL this weekend as he face charges over an assault.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse confirmed that the young onballer would play for the club's VFL side, but refused to make any further comment.
"The club's issued a statement, I'm not prepared to get involved in anything other than to say that the club has issued a statement,'' he said.

Cook will be charged by police over an alleged attack that occurred in the early morning of January 18 outside a Sale service station.

Collingwood, on behalf of Cook, has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and said Cook, 21, would defend the charges claiming self defence.
The club said would not be making any further comments while the matter is before the courts.

Cook was in Sale to celebrate Collingwood vice-captain Scott Pendlebury's 21st birthday.

The alleged victim of the attack, Jason Millar, 28, suffered severe facial injuries including a broken nose, cheek and two fractured eye sockets after he was allegedly punched twice to the face.

He has had extensive surgery, with a metal plate and up to 10 screws inserted to hold his face together.

Mr Millar is said to be still suffering severe after-effects, including a recurring blood nose and pain in his left eye.

"It's been a difficult period, but that's all I can say right now,'' Mr Millar said.

Mr Millar said he was surprised by Collingwood's reaction, after rumours of the alleged assault and subsequent police investigation surfaced in early February.

At the time, Collingwood took the extraordinary step of releasing a statement saying that an internal investigation had cleared Cook of any wrongdoing.

"Through the club's investigation it appears that Ryan acted entirely in self-defence and the club will not be taking any disciplinary action against the player,'' the statement read.

A Collingwood spokesman told the Herald Sun that Cook had consumed alcohol on the night of the incident, but not excessively.

"I'm shocked that he's claiming self-defence,'' Mr Millar said in response to the club's statement.

Collingwood Football Club chief executive Gary Pert said late yesterday that Cook would been charged.

"Ryan Cook's legal representatives have late this afternoon been advised that Ryan will be charged as a result of a recent incident that took place in Sale,'' Mr Pert said.

"Once documentation has been received Ryan will meet with the club and his legal representatives to establish his steps from this point.''

It is not known whether any of Cook's teammates witnessed the alleged attack.

Cook played nine games last year, for a career total of 12, and was part of the Magpies' 2009 NAB Cup campaign.

Hopefully he can get off, doesn't look to good though.

(Sorry I didn't put this up earlier, have been away the last few days).

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Cook in for his first game of 2009, hopefully he has a good one.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Thought he was shocking last night, just not up to AFL standard unfortunately.

 

[HFF]

Didn't think he was too bad last night.

Sure, he made some fundamental skill errors and poor decisions at times that were costly but made the same amount of clangers as Pendlebury (6)
He racked up 20 disposals, 3 I50, 2 clearances and 1 assist at 75% efficiency. Not too bad, particularly as he was assigned onto Priddis for most of the night who in turn had 22 disposals at 59% efficiency. He definitely at leats broke even ore bettered his opponent on the night.

I think the midfield unit as a "whole" was very good. Swan, Pendles and Davis all had 30+ touches. The second-tier types (Cook, O'Bree Wellingahm etc. all had about 20+ disposals or thereaouts too which is a healthy compliment. We had 438 possessions, indicating a (high possession game-style, something we are not used to seeing.

Nowadays, you need to have 10-12 players running through the midfield. They don't all need to be A-grade but compliment the core that you have. i think Cook compliments our young brigade quite well, despite what many think.

 

[Dazman]

Didn't think he was too bad last night.

Sure, he made some fundamental skill errors and poor decisions at times that were costly but made the same amount of clangers as Pendlebury (6)
He racked up 20 disposals, 3 I50, 2 clearances and 1 assist at 75% efficiency. Not too bad, particularly as he was assigned onto Priddis for most of the night who in turn had 22 disposals at 59% efficiency. He definitely at leats broke even ore bettered his opponent on the night.

I think the midfield unit as a "whole" was very good. Swan, Pendles and Davis all had 30+ touches. The second-tier types (Cook, O'Bree Wellingahm etc. all had about 20+ disposals or thereaouts too which is a healthy compliment. We had 438 possessions, indicating a (high possession game-style, something we are not used to seeing.

Nowadays, you need to have 10-12 players running through the midfield. They don't all need to be A-grade but compliment the core that you have. i think Cook compliments our young brigade quite well, despite what many think.

I'll stand up for him as well

Of his 6 clangers, 3 were frees against which confuses things. So had 3 clangers due to bad skill.

I think his clangers look really bad and that why people hate him - that one to McKinley when switching the play across half back was deplorable. But he beat his opponent, he looked good in the contest and won a bit of ball and when he handballed was really good for us, had a couple of kicks to contests which were good

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

I don't really think he was shocking, just some of his decisions were.

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Completely forgot about this!

Ryan won our Best VFL player award on Friday so congrats to him.

From the games that I saw I thought he was pretty good (although Reid should've won IMO), but too bad he hasn't been able to take the next step up. Maybe he will be able to find another club that will give him a chance, but not too sure.

A key pillar in the VFL Magpies’ success this season, Ryan Cook was awarded the Joseph Wren Trophy (Best VFL player) on Friday night during the Copeland Trophy at the Crown Palladium.

Cook had an outstanding year in the VFL, contributing in 19 matches and averaging a team-high 27 disposals per match

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/85835/default.aspx

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

Here are a few photos of him from the night.