Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder is looking forward to football after break-in drama

PADDY Ryder has Ken Hinkley’s complete confidence to perform at his best against Fremantle on Saturday despite the drama of making a citizen’s arrest on Thursday morning.

Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas, Tom Rockliff, Paddy Ryder and Jared Polec at the captain’s run at Adelaide Oval. Picture Sarah Reed

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PORT Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder showed no signs of stress from the attempted break-in drama at his Henley Beach home as the Power completed a light captain’s run at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning.

Ryder, who completed a citizen’s arrest on one of three men who attempted to break in to his house early Thursday morning, appeared unaffected by the dramatic event at the training session and coach Ken Hinkley was relieved nobody had been hurt.

About 4.15am, the star footballer woke to someone trying to break into his Henley Beach home. The offenders fled in a Volkswagen Golf allegedly stolen earlier from Largs Bay.

Dom Barry ahead of his first game for the Power. Picture Sarah Reed

Tom Rockliff, Paddy Ryder and Jared Polec were all smiles at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning. Picture Sarah Reed

Police said he gave chase in his car until the stolen vehicle crashed at West Lakes Boulevard. Three men ran from the smashed car but one was caught by Ryder.

The man is now under police arrest and Ryder was thinking about Saturday’s season opener against Fremantle.

“One question I’ll answer about the Paddy issue,” Hinkley said. “Because it is Round 1 — I think we should be excited about Round 1.

“But we’re really happy that Paddy and his family are safe and that nothing else has gone wrong in that space.

“Paddy ... one thing I know he’s looking forward to is playing Round 1.”

Port Adelaide’s squad assembles for the captain’s run at Adelaide Oval on Friday. Picture Sarah Reed

Ryder will face one of football’s most testing assignments at Adelaide Oval on Saturday when he faces the biggest man in the game, the Dockers’ 211cm, 122kg ruckman Aaron Sandilands.

But Hinkley was confident in All-Australian Ryder’s prospects against the WA giant.

“It’s a big challenge for Paddy,” Hinkley said. “And a big challenge for anyone else who goes up against him.

“Aaron’s a big man and I’ve watched him over the past couple of weeks.

“He seems like he’s up and about and pretty fit.

“He’s a challenge for any team, really, but we’re not unhappy with our ruck option.”

👆👆 @chadwingard20 #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/zndpJoCRkJ

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) March 22, 2018