Introducing Ryan Nye - from afc.com today

[No 1 Draft Pick]

Who did you play your junior football with?

I first started with South Mandurah in Western Australia playing in the Under 10’s through to Under 12’s. Unfortunately South Mandurah Football Club folded so I played with Halls Head, which worked out well for me because that is where I lived. I Under 13’s to Under 16’s there. From there I was invited out to play with the Peel Thunder Colts in 2003 where I played the last half of the year. At the start of last year I set a goal to have a really big year with the Colts (Under 18’s) in 2004 and was lucky enough to come under the eye of the Crows recruiting staff who have selected me as a rookie.

Who was your childhood hero?

The last few years I have taken a liking to Paul Licuria from Collingwood. I like the way he plays his football because he is so hard at the ball and seems very dedicated. I like watching Nathan Buckley play, so as you can probably guess I did like Collingwood growing up, but now I am a full-on Crow.

When were you first contacted by the club, who contacted you, and what was said?

At this year’s National Under18 Championships I met James Fantasia and from then on I was in contact with him at least once a week and he gave me an outline of where I stood. At the draft I camp I was the first player interviewed by Adelaide where I met Neil Craig for the first time and he told me that I was in the mix with several other players. Although I missed out at the National Draft Adelaide picked me up in the Rookie Draft, which I am rapt about.

What has been the best part of pre-season training so far?

I would say the camp at Tanunda was really enjoyable. It was great to spend the three days with the guys and get to know them all. I have welcomed by all at the Club, which makes settling in so much easier.

What has been the worst part?

Like any interstate recruit it is always difficult moving away from family and friends, but I have settled in now with the amount of training we are doing you don’t get to think about home too often.

How big a step up has the training regime been from what you have previously been used to?

It is a huge difference. Back at Peel we were training three days a week and doing stuff like carrying blokes up sand hills and endless amounts of running, whereas at the Crows we are doing football training just about every session. Training twice a day, six days a week is a massive step-up from what I have been used to.

The most “interesting” teammate you’ve met so far; why?

Ben Hart without a doubt. He looks like a quiet type of person, but he is a genuine character. He is real lively person around the Club and a top person to be around.

How have you settled into life as an AFL footballer, in a new state (if applicable) and in a totally new environment?

Leaving home was tough, but I have settled into a new home with my care family and the lady who looks after myself and Jonathon Griffin is just great. I lived with another person from the Club before Christmas, but now knowing that this will be my home for the next 12 months is good.

Outside of training hours, what have you been doing in your spare time?

Jonathon Griffin and myself have set up a backyard cricket strip so that will get plenty of use. I don’t mind having a hit of golf when we get some spare time, which at the moment is not too much.

 

[macca23]

Looks a very likely type this lad, and is well developed body wise for his age.

I was impressed with him at training, and look forward to seeing him in games.

A good year from him in the SANFL should see him elevated to the main list at year end.

 

[Rozza44]

Yeah this guy looks a great pickup for you guys. Good luck to him in 2005

 

[Bockchoy67]

Yeah this guy looks a great pickup for you guys. Good luck to him in 2005

Thanks mate.

It's always good to see some positive thoughts about the Crows from opposition clubs.

In reply to this thread, I must admit I was initially annoyed by us picking Ryan so high. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realised that it symbolised everything about the AFC at the moment: Change.

No one predicted we would pick up Nye. No one thought we would draft Knights. Everyone thought we would pick up Wood, not Meesen.

This unpredictability is definitely a good thing. It shows that the AFC see something special in these players, and that they will give something to this team that others (with more apparent talent) can not.

It's why times like these are exciting.

 

[Rozza44]

Yeah in my opinion it was a clever pickup because it showed that adelaide dont get trapped into believing the medias predictions of who will go and when. Good to see some independance in a team

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Looks a very likely type this lad, and is well developed body wise for his age.

I was impressed with him at training, and look forward to seeing him in games.

A good year from him in the SANFL should see him elevated to the main list at year end.

So you think he will get promoted first by the end of the year then?

 

[macca23]

So you think he will get promoted first by the end of the year then?

He really moves and looks the part already. A good year at SANFL level looks well within his scope, and if he does achieve that, I'd expect him to be promoted.

Andrews is another who could be promoted if he continues to develop further this year. It's his 2nd year of being a rookie, so at the end of the year it's cut or promote.

Griffin is a very likely type, but 3 years away bodywise. He moves very well for a tall lad and has good agility and a nice kick. He'll get another rookie year next year.

Hinge is a really interesting one. I did like the look of this lad. Trained with the big boys as if he had always been there - looked completely at home, yet he virtually has only played school footy. I wouldn't be surprised to see him pushing for promotion at year end as well.

 

[No 1 Draft Pick]

He really moves and looks the part already. A good year at SANFL level looks well within his scope, and if he does achieve that, I'd expect him to be promoted.

Andrews is another who could be promoted if he continues to develop further this year. It's his 2nd year of being a rookie, so at the end of the year it's cut or promote.

Griffin is a very likely type, but 3 years away bodywise. He moves very well for a tall lad and has good agility and a nice kick. He'll get another rookie year next year.

Hinge is a really interesting one. I did like the look of this lad. Trained with the big boys as if he had always been there - looked completely at home, yet he virtually has only played school footy. I wouldn't be surprised to see him pushing for promotion at year end as well.

So Macca if you are right we could possibly have 3 rookie promotions at years end (if not beforehand with long-term injuries):

Andrews
Nye
and possibly Hinge

How good would it be to have 2-3 of these rookies be up to the grade and be promoted. We have all acknowledged the Crows can (and probably will) have a big clean out of the list at the end of 2005 with 6-10 players on notice this year to perform.

To have 2-3 rookies being promoted gives us alot more flexibility post 2005 to make some hard decisions on exisiting players

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

So Macca if you are right we could possibly have 3 rookie promotions at years end (if not beforehand with long-term injuries):

Andrews
Nye
and possibly Hinge

How good would it be to have 2-3 of these rookies be up to the grade and be promoted. We have all acknowledged the Crows can (and probably will) have a big clean out of the list at the end of 2005 with 6-10 players on notice this year to perform.

To have 2-3 rookies being promoted gives us alot more flexibility post 2005 to make some hard decisions on exisiting players

Good point...

How much pressure would there be on our many second tiers. They look over at training and see the rookies such as Griffen and Hinge ( according to reports ) looking really good.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Good point...

How much pressure would there be on our many second tiers. They look over at training and see the rookies such as Griffen and Hinge ( according to reports ) looking really good.

That's what makes a good club great, pressure for spots makes players feel they must perform or else they're out the door. No cruisin'

 

[tribey]

Good point...

How much pressure would there be on our many second tiers. They look over at training and see the rookies such as Griffen and Hinge ( according to reports ) looking really good.

Something we haven't had in recent years.

Hopefully the pressure and competition only increases as these kids keep developing.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Good point...

How much pressure would there be on our many second tiers. They look over at training and see the rookies such as Griffen and Hinge ( according to reports ) looking really good.

Gotta remember though min 3 draft choices at ND, plus if 3 players get upgraded from rookie list there's 6 you have to delist - and only one retirement in the wind

There could be if this was to occur (and I don't think it will) result in some fancied players being let go

 

[macca23]

Gotta remember though min 3 draft choices at ND, plus if 3 players get upgraded from rookie list there's 6 you have to delist - and only one retirement in the wind

There could be if this was to occur (and I don't think it will) result in some fancied players being let go

Probably not, but IMO these players will be pushing for it.

Andrews will have to be promoted or cut, due to being on the rookie list for 2 years, and I'm tipping that he will be promoted if he improves as he should. IMO Nye would be almost a cert with a good season at SANFL level, while Hinge looks a very likely type. Griffin will need time.

Let's say it's just Andrews and Nye. If Clarke retires as anticipated, we would have to delist 4 to have 3 draft picks.

I'd have no problem picking 4 at this stage, although one or two of them will step up and save their bacon. If it were as of today, just look at the S's alone - Smith, Schuback, Skipworth, Scott Stevens.

There's nothing too fancy or fancied in that lot.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Probably not, but IMO these players will be pushing for it.

Andrews will have to be promoted or cut, due to being on the rookie list for 2 years, and I'm tipping that he will be promoted if he improves as he should. IMO Nye would be almost a cert with a good season at SANFL level, while Hinge looks a very likely type. Griffin will need time.

Let's say it's just Andrews and Nye. If Clarke retires as anticipated, we would have to delist 4 to have 3 draft picks.

I'd have no problem picking 4 at this stage, although one or two of them will step up and save their bacon. If it were as of today, just look at the S's alone - Smith, Schuback, Skipworth, Scott Stevens.

There's nothing too fancy or fancied in that lot.

You changed your tune on Schuback pretty quickly

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

You changed your tune on Schuback pretty quickly

Schuback may have some talent Stiffy, but he better show it at AFL level this year if he wants to stay on our list.

Going by Macca's S theory, S Stevo is a double goner ... or is it just there will be a double Stevo delisting...

 

[macca23]

You changed your tune on Schuback pretty quickly

Not that quickly - but yes I have, over the course of last year. Even in such a shocking year as last year, and in his 3rd year, he couldn't make any impact at all.

Why will he this year?? Another repetition of last year and he's a dead duck.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I'd have no problem picking 4 at this stage, although one or two of them will step up and save their bacon. If it were as of today, just look at the S's alone - Smith, Schuback, Skipworth, Scott Stevens.

No argument from me - could add another S in Shirley to that list

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Not that quickly - but yes I have, over the course of last year. Even in such a shocking year as last year, and in his 3rd year, he couldn't make any impact at all.

Why will he this year?? Another repetition of last year and he's a dead duck.

Unfortunate fact of life.

 

[Rave Slave]

Sounds like a pretty good kid from reading that report.

I actually think the AFC did really well this year in terms of not only the National Draft but also the rookie draft.

From all accounts we drafted a couple of lads who could've easily been snaffled in the National Draft itself and are likely to play AFL footy at some stage in the near future. We also took one project player in Griffin and if he makes it then this would be fantastic as skillful and tall lads don't just grow on trees.

This is in contrast with previous years where we would just waste picks and/or use our picks to take nothing but project players that may/may not even get a crack at the AFL - at least some of these kids seem to already have the skills and body types suited to play AFL footy reasonably quickly.

That said this may also be to cover ourselves for when we have the big delist at the end of this year....

Man I can't wait for the footy to start