Marion 100-goalkicker Ryan Wade set to play in first grand final in Saturday’s “Battle of the Battlers” against O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale
RYAN Wade is a 200cm, 112kg man mountain who has tormented full-backs this year by kicking a century of goals. The 32-year-old Marion player only moved to full-forward this year and is set to play in his first grand final in Saturday’s “Battle of the Battlers”.
HE is the 200cm, 112kg man mountain who has tormented full-backs this year by kicking bags of goals for the Marion Rams.
But Ryan Wade – set to play in his first grand final in Saturday’s “Battle of the Battlers” between the Rams and O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale at St Marys Park – insists he is a chatter rather than an intimidator.
“I play footy for fun first, so I talk and joke with the full-back a bit, which he doesn’t seem to like doing if I’ve kicked six or seven,” Wade, 32, says.
This year, Wade has booted 108 goals – the third-most in the entire Adelaide Footy League – from 21 games in division seven, including a career-high 13 against Flinders University in April.
Not bad for a player who was a ruckman before this season and had never kicked more than 30-odd majors in a campaign.
“My whole plan was to come down and play in the middle,” says Wade, who rejoined the club this season from Hills Football League team Meadows.
“But we had a couple of big lads who could handle that, and didn’t really have a key forward who could take a catch and kick a goal.
“I’ve always been reasonably co-ordinated and could kick as a bigger guy, so they thought they’d give it a go and it’s worked out all right.
“I’ve texted a few of my old coaches saying ‘I’ve been played out of position my whole career’.”
Wade is well aware of the Rams’ struggles despite his seven-year stint with Meadows.
He was a Marion junior and also played several seasons with its seniors before missing a large chunk of the club’s downfall, including its winless campaigns in 2016 and 2017.
“I’ve always been around the club because I’ve still had heaps of mates playing,” he says.
“It was pretty tough to watch (the club struggling).”
Wade is now teammates with a handful of players he coached years ago in the club’s under-12s, including Angus Robertson, Josh Buckney and Brendan Day.
“It’s pretty cool … but it makes me feel old as hell.”
Wade says the Rams, who are chasing their first A-grade flag in 18 years, have been quietly eyeing success since the start of the season.
They booked their spot in the premiership decider with a 31-point preliminary final triumph over St Paul’s Old Scholars on Saturday.
Wade has implored his younger teammates to make the most of this opportunity to win a flag, saying he is proof they are no guarantee to come around regularly.
“This will be my first grand final after 14 years of senior footy, so you’ve got to take your chance,” he says.
“I’m still sort of pinching myself. Even just talking about it gets you keen.
“For me, the club and everyone involved here, it (winning on Saturday) just needs to happen.”
MEET THE MARION RAMS
Back row (nickname, occupation):
Kaleb Wilden (Silk, McDonald’s manager)
Dean Conier (Deano, aircraft engineer)
Cameron Watts (Wattsy, electrician)
Dylan Gerner (Gerns, plumber)
Lionel Goveas (Young lion, engineer)
Lyndon Rasmus-Fraser (Lyndo, car detailer)
Adam Knight (Knighter, policeman)
Captain Steve Saunders (Sauce, refrigeration mechanic)
Steve Donnell (Duck, bricklayer)
Brendan Day (Daisy, plumber)
Jason McBride (Jase, landscaper)
Middle row:
Luke Henderson (Hendo, publican)
Ethan Swart (Swarta, animal behaviourist)
Ryan Wade (Wadey, wall cladding contractor)
Josh Buckney (Bucks, plumber)
Jack Heffernan (Heff, landscaper)
Brayden Reeves (Reevsy, student)
Max McCallum (Maxy, tinter)
Luke Cave (Lettuce, carpenter)
Matt Perry (Pez, train electrician)
Luke Heffernan (Heff, student)
Front row:
Steve Dawson (Smoky, student)
Jack Jewson (Juice, roofer)
Angus Robertson (Goose, butcher)
Joe McCallum (Joey, physio)
Patrick O’Dea (Patty, student)
James Smith (Smithy, student)
Sean Bayzand (Bayzy, finance manager)
