Newest Western Bulldog Ryan Gardner set to make AFL debut this round

He went from the beer garden to the AFL after the Western Bulldogs picked him up in the mid-season draft and now Ryan Gardner is set to complete a meteoric rise with his debut this weekend.

Lifelong Western Bulldogs supporter Jason Sneddon has lost one of his best barmen.

But the trade off for the owner of Yarraville’s Railway Hotel is his club recruiting the key-position player it craved — Ryan Gardner — after the sudden retirement of Tom Boyd.

Gardner, 21, was chosen at pick No.6 in Monday’s mid-season rookie draft, earning a second chance at AFL level after being delisted by Geelong last year.

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And today, he was told he will make his AFL debut against West Coast at Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Bulldogs manager of list and recruiting Sam Power said on Monday night after selecting Gardner that he was ‘‘physically ready’’.

Coach Luke Beveridge backed that judgment, telling the players at Gardner’s first team meeting yesterday afternoon that he would play his first game in Dogs colours this weekend.

In a video on the Western Bulldogs’ Twitter account, Gardner’s father couldn’t contain his excitement when the new Bulldog broke the news

“I got some news for you thought, I’m flying to Perth and I’m playing this weekend … it’s going to be pretty crazy,” Gardner said.

His dad replied: “F***ing awesome, mate.”

27/5/2019: Ryan Gardner is drafted.

28/5/2019: Ryan calls Dad, telling him he's making his AFL debut this weekend.#MightyWest pic.twitter.com/WVJVs6D7G4

— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) May 28, 2019

NEW DOG: GARDNER RECRUITED TO THE KENNEL

Gardner, a 197cm key-position player, has juggled three jobs since being axed by the Cats, working as a bartender, steam cleaner and warehouse packer.

“I’m sure he was disappointed to be delisted by Geelong, but there was no sense of ‘woe is me’ or of disappointment,” Sneddon said.

“(He) always worked really hard, brought a great attitude, never took the attitude of it just being a stop gap until he worked his way back into the system.

“He’s got a great work ethic and hopefully he makes the most of his second ­opportunity and has a good career.

“Hopefully I can sponsor him and we can have his photo hanging above the bar ­rather than him serving beers in it.”

Gardner said his time on the AFL scrapheap had ­fuelled his determination and helped him understand the importance of perspective.

“It was good to get working and keep my mind off footy,” he said.

“That was real helpful for me, to just keep my mind in a different place, not all about football.

“That’s probably a reason why I have been picked back up as well, being able to think about things that aren’t just football for once.”

New Bulldog Ryan Gardner was drafted on Monday, trained today and was told he will make his AFL debut this weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Gardner joined the Bulldogs’ VFL affiliate Footscray this season after three years with the Cats, intent on ­earning another AFL ­opportunity.

“I went from being in school straight on to an AFL list,” Gardner said.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener to be in the working world, have to do that kind of stuff and then go and train and try and play football.

“Looking at it now, I am going to definitely do a lot more study and try and give myself the best crack for after footy.”

Gardner kicked eight goals in his first three VFL matches for Footscray before being thrown into ­defence.

“As a key-position player, you have got to be able to play multiple roles,” he said.

“That’s the kind of mindset I am going in with, that I might have to play forward or I might have to play back. But I need to be open.”

The Tasmanian was starved of opportunities in his time at Geelong, stuck behind key-position players Mark Blicavs, Lachie Henderson, Harry Taylor and Tom ­Lonergan in the defensive pecking order.

“You look at players and go, ‘Can I do that?’,’’ Gardner said.

“It was just more about doing everything I could at VFL and showing what I am good at to hopefully get back on a list,” he said.

“I am just glad that’s ­happened for me.”

Originally published as Newest Western Bulldog Ryan Gardner set to make AFL debut this round