Richmond Tigers recruit Samson Ryan may not be the only player drafted from Sherwood Magpies

The champion Richmond Tigers have secured thrilling Queensland ruck prospect Samson Ryan, but two other local boys linger on the fringe of future draft selection.

The champion Richmond Tigers have secured thrilling Queensland ruck prospect Samson Ryan, but two other local boys linger on the fringe of future draft selection.

Fellow Toowoomba product and centre halfback Jack Briskey along with wingman Bruce Reville - all from Sherwood n Magpies - could be the next cabs off the rank.

This was after Ryan, a 206cm tall bundle of skill, was drafted into the Tigers ranks after a frenetic day of trading on Wednesday.

“I think he (Briskey) might be next year,’’ said Sherwood Magpies president Andrew Thomson.

“He is 196cm but is quick - he has a lot of weapons.’’

Thomson said he expected Reville to break into the Lions reserves in 2021.

Ryan, 20, will arrive at Punt Road hardened by a 10-match short season burst playing against men in the AFLQ competition with the Sherwood Magpies.

“He is a good kid, a confident kid,’’ said Thomson.

“He came on in leaps and bounds this year by settling into a single program rather bouncing from team to team.’’

Former Toowoomba Grammar student, Samson Ryan has been drafted by Richmond Tigers.

Thomson was referring to Ryan’s 2019 season when he was spread across playing for the Magpies, the Lions Academy and Redlands in the NEAFL.

Ryan’s springboard into the AFL draft came via the Magpies after he was recommended to the club by former Wilston Grange big man Lindsay Collinson.

Collinson had spotted Samson playing in Toowoomba where he attended Toowoomba Grammar School and played cricket as well as Australian football.

In 2018, with his father Luke or mother Belinda at the wheel, Ryan would be driven to either the Magpies or the Lions Academy for training and matches.

In 2019 he played Lions Academy, Allies, Redland, Lions Reserves and Sherwood - five different teams in a 6 week period at one point.

Bruce Reville and Samson Ryan were Sherwood Magpies teammates.

But the COVID-19 crisis restrictions which ended the NEAFL and other competitions season may have been a blessing in disguise for the rookie because it meant he had one team and one team only to play with - the Magpies in to QAFL competition. This meant he could gather momentum and develop both as an individual and as a team player within the one unit - the Sherwood Magpies.

“He had couple of games when he was clearly the best player on the ground,’’ Thomson said.

“We thought the Lions would take him (Ryan) last year and we knew clubs were watching Briskey, but were obviously watching him (Ryan) as well,’’ Thomson said.

The result of his season in the QAFL was Ryan being drafted to his dream club on his 20th birthday.

“It did not surprise me that he was drafted. The kid is 206cm with skill. Kids like that don’t grow on trees and we knew someone would take notice.’’

Thomson said the drafting of Ryan and interest in Briskey and Reville - following the drafting of Morningside’s Blake Coleman (Lions) - was a boon for the AFLQ.

He said it showed the “big wigs’’ from Victoria that Queensland can ran an outstanding competition with outstanding players.