In Praise of Ryan Lester.

[beardancer]

Ryan must be close to a seniors call up and I'm pretty happy about that. Players like Lester are rare. They are the bedrock of a club. Successful clubs have Ryan Lesters.
He's been our mister reliable for years, through tough times and now good times. If you've been watching reserves games lately you'll see his leadership, his standard setting and his pure football ability..... to a point where he's about to force his way back into the seniors. I thought he was gone but here he is again. He's an unfashionable footballer, he's too small for this role, to big for that, too slow, unspectacular, yet he just keeps going, beating opponents and winning. When he finally retires our club will be way poorer than we realize.

 

[FLVanLandingham]

I mean... Lester is good. But he's no Joe Daniher

 

[martinson]

I mean... Lester is good. But he's no Joe Daniher

Everyone loves Ryan but in the Reserves game I watched in full 3 weeks ago he was poor.

I don't think he's Top 22 any more but if we cop injuries obviously he could get a call up.

 

[beardancer]

Everyone loves Ryan but in the Reserves game I watched in full 3 weeks ago he was poor.

I don't think he's Top 22 any more but if we cop injuries obviously he could get a call up.

Was that the Carlton game?

 

[marooned]

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

So this guy hates Joe but loves lester?

 

[dlanod]

So this guy hates Joe but loves lester?

Lester's not out there kicking goals and laughing!

 

[Brett C]

Doesn’t take enough contested marks in the forward 50 or have enough hit outs for me.

Maybe he chases or gives the appearance of chasing though so that’s may be enough.

 

[beardancer]

Just a reminder. Lester has played 10 seasons of good football for our club through thick and thin. Jeeez!

 

[ZoBlitz]

Should kick more goals though.

 

[Kevvo]

Could do with more hit-outs.

 

[M Malice]

 

[On the quiet]

Just a reminder. Lester has played 10 seasons of good football for our club through thick and thin. Jeeez!

I think almost anyone could have played for us during 2016, 2017 etc. Lester has played over 150 AFL games, and well done to him. IMO Lester is now handy back up at best, but is not in the best 22 and I would be surprised if he is picked ahead of Payne this year. Think that was indicated last year in the Dogs semi. when Payne was picked in the unfamiliar forward role.
Maybe if Payne seeks a release at the end of this year, Lester gets another year.

 

[beardancer]

i had no idea a thread about one of our greatest clubmen is seen as a joke.

odd.

 

[knaf]

Reverse troll?

 

[dlanod]

i had no idea a thread about one of our greatest clubmen is seen as a joke.

odd.

It's not the thread that's seen as a joke, it's the context.

 

[beardancer]

Surely we can talk about two subjects separately? Do we have to treat a thread about one of our best as a joke.

 

[Gadzorks]

There are thousands of kids dreaming of having the AFL career of Lester.

A loyal, talented, afl role player that prioritises the team and club over his personal glory.

I'd be so proud of him if I was his parent/family member.

He should hold his head high, ignore the small minded never-have-beens and know that there are many, many lions fans who appreciate, respect and applaud his amazing footy ability, his long and lustrous career, and his personal character.

 

[beardancer]

Well said. If you were an 18 year old playing in a team with him it'd be a huge learning/molding experience.

 

[Dalions]

Surely we can talk about two subjects separately? Do we have to treat a thread about one of our best as a joke.

Ryan Lester has been a great Clubman over a number of years and has shown great resilience to remain on the list.
But to describe him as one of our best puts the joke directly on your shoulders.

 

[beardancer]

There's more to "one of our best" than greatness as a player. See Gadzorks post above.

 

[Nathan Barley]

The Springfield oval should be named after Lester. Disgraceful to name it after a Carlton coach when there's a club legend still at the club!!!!!!!!

 

[On the quiet]

There's more to "one of our best" than greatness as a player. See Gadzorks post above.

With all due respect to Gadzorks how does he exactly know what occurs behind closed doors. For all we know Lester could be in the coaches office constantly pushing for his selection (that's professional sport). I agree with Dalions in that it is a credit to Lester that he has shown great resilience to remain on the list and play over 150AFL games, and yes as mentioned by Gadworks many many youngsters would wish for a career such as his.

 

[Gadzorks]

With all due respect to Gadzorks how does he exactly know what occurs behind closed doors. For all we know Lester could be in the coaches office constantly pushing for his selection (that's professional sport). I agree with Dalions in that it is a credit to Lester that he has shown great resilience to remain on the list and play over 150AFL games, and yes as mentioned by Gadworks many many youngsters would wish for a career such as his.

I don't know him, or whether he is a suck up/coaches pet/whinger whiner.

I do know that, in many past interviews of a range of players, his teammates laud him, describe him as an awesome teammate, an outstanding human being and say he is the heart and soul of the club.

Quite frankly, that's a good enough recommendation for me to accept that he is a great bloke and a highly valued cog in the lions machine.

 

[irel]

Must have missed Ryan Lester

35

Ryan Lester

Age

33

Ht

190cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.9

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

170.4

3star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

140.7

3star

D

12.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.6

3star

's retirement press release. In that case, yes you were a great club man, contributed well when called upon and 150 games will secure you a life membership of the club. Thank you Ryan for all you have done for the club. No doubt we'll see you in some capacity involved in the AFL industry. Wishing you all the best buddy. Thanks for the memories.