Dermott Brereton: Essendon will have to watch out for flyin’ Liam Ryan

Liam Ryan failed the courage test in last year’s Grand Final. But Dermott Brereton explains how the Eagles ‘one-trick pony’ has changed his game to provide a much bigger threat in this finals series.

There is more substance to Liam Ryan. Picture: AAP

Earlier in the year I said I found it hard to like Liam Ryan as a player.

Even though I had been captivated by what he showed on several occasions, I thought he was a one-trick pony.

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He could manoeuvre himself to the rear position in a marking contest, fly and take mark of the week, even contend for mark of the year, but there was not a lot of substance about his standards thereafter.

He picked off Brayden Maynard in the Grand Final last year with a bone-crushing bump that slammed the Magpie into the turf.

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Maynard maintained his focus on the ball even though he knew he was a sitting duck.

But 30 minutes of football later it was Ryan’s turn to keep his eyes on the ball and run back into the unknown, knowing there was every chance of copping heavy contact.

He meekly withdrew and failed the test.

He was, as my old coach Allan Jeans would say, “playing completely on his terms”.

Ryan did redeem himself to a degree later in the game when he took a brilliant contested mark.

He then kicked to Dom Sheed, who marked and goaled, giving the Eagles the lead — and the premiership.

But Eagles coach Adam Simpson must be rapt with the giant steps Ryan has taken this year.

In the back half of the season, he is bravely running back with the flight of the ball.

Liam Ryan flies high in the 2018 Grand Final against Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

He displayed this courage against Carlton in Round 20, taking the type of mark that would inspire even Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt.

In the past, Ryan would often sprint to the goalsquare ahead of an Eagles fast break.

He now runs slanting leads that cut across the ball carrier’s vision and draw the kick.

Showing greater imagination, he is able to cut through space away from Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling and give the two key forwards a better chance of getting the ball while staying dangerous himself.

In fact, Ryan’s running back into the forward area is as hard and clever as any mid-sized player in the comp. He has become a genuine weapon.

I have been critical of him running himself off his line to avoid a heavy body tackle against opponents when they ran directly at him.

I don’t know who the Eagles have employed as a tackling coach, but they have worked wonders with him.

He has learned to use an opponent’s body weight when tackling front-on.

When a bigger opponent in possession of the footy charges at a smaller opponent, the smaller player just has to cling on with the tackle, even while knowing he is probably going to hurt himself.

Ryan soars against Carlton earlier this season. Picture: AAP

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But if you let the opposition through you, that is something that your own backline hates with a passion.

Some smaller players learn to disguise an effort in these circumstances.

They pretend to try their best to stick the front-on tackle. But they don’t, and this is letting their team down.

Ryan had a few moments like this in the past, but his ­efforts now are team-based and much better.

His run-downs from behind have also greatly improved.

Fair enough, these types of tackles can be a bit of a “soft kill” compared to the front-on bone-jarring tackles, but they still must be made and they put enormous pressure on oppositions.

Ryan’s progress as a well-rounded footballer has been excellent.

His improvement has been through the roof.

No one doubted his ability to wow crowds, but it is the addition of team ethics and a team-first mentality that takes a player from being a teammate to “much loved”.

In cricket terms, taking a screamer is much like hitting a bad ball for four when the ball is old and soft.

It is all set up for the taking.

But holding a front-on bone-jarring tackle or running back with the flight of the ball requires courage because you can end up hurt or injured.

It is similar to facing the new ball against a seriously fast bowler when it is whizzing around your ears.

You need to chip away and dedicate to the “grind”.

Because without the “grind” the rest of the innings falls away.

Ryan is a vastly better player heading into the finals this year than he was last year.

Originally published as Dermott Brereton: Essendon will have to watch out for flyin’ Liam Ryan