AFL Draft 2023: Top prospect Ryley Sanders on his move from Tasmania to Melbourne Grammar

Ryley Sanders was approached by a private school to move from Tasmania to Melbourne. The top-10 prospect opens up on the decision, how it played out and why it has helped him.

Ryley Sanders on his move from Tasmania to Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Ryley Sanders made a difficult decision that changed his life, and his footy, for the better.

The Tasmanian talent made the call to move away from his friends and family in Launceston and cross the Bass Strait and head to Melbourne.

Melbourne Grammar had an awareness that Sanders may want to move through a connection between then Head of Football Rhys Gieschen and Ryley’s father Adam, a former Tasmania state academy coach and North Launceston legend.

The Indigenous prospect had already spent some time in Melbourne as part of North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy at that time.

Sanders was offered a scholarship by the school and he eventually decided that being there full-time with Melbourne Grammar and Coates Talent League club the Sandringham Dragons was the best thing for his footy.

Ryley Sanders in action in the Coates Talent League grand final. Picture: Getty Images

“Halfway through year 10 my dad got a call from the old head of footy Rhy Gieschen to ask if was interested in coming over there,” Sanders said.

“They were pretty keen for me to start around term two, they were pretty keen for me to start at the end of that term but I more wanted to start in Year 11 so they were really good with that.

“Met all the people there, toured the boarding house and the school and thought it was definitely something I wanted to do.

“It was a tough decision to leave Tassie, leave home and went to a really good school here in (St Patrick’s College Launceston) and had lots of good friends.”

His decision was in part was because of the dearth of Tasmanian draftees for a number of years.

The Tasmania Devils were one of the most successful CTL sides over the past two years and boast top prospects in Colby McKercher, James Leake, potential first-round talent Arie Schoenmaker along with later chances Jack Callinan, Heath Ollington and Geordie Payne, but there had been a dry spell for the Apple Isle previously.

Launceston's draft prospects James Leake, Ryley Sanders, Colby McKercher and Arie Schoenmaker at UTAS Stadium. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

From 2019 to 2022, seven Tasmanians were drafted but just one remains on an AFL list in young Richmond playmaker Sam Banks and Essendon mid-season pick-up Jye Menzie.

Sanders is close with fellow Launceston products McKercher, Leake and Schoenmaker and together along with Callinan they helped the Allies claim their first ever national championships win.

While moving to Melbourne helped him become a top-10 prospect in this year’s draft, he is also a “big believer” that training standards are up to the player, rather than the program.

“It was definitely mainly because of footy. There was a bit of a decrease in kids getting drafted from Tassie and a lot of Tassie kids were getting into the system and getting spat out pretty quick,” Sanders said.

“Obviously Sandringham who I was lucky enough to play for, they have a lot of high-end picks, have a lot of players in the AFL so that was a big decision and then to go to the school that I went to, I found it very hard to knock back.

“If there is a kid training in South Australia with a SANFL team or in Tassie or Sandy it is all up to them to put in the work and train hard.

“I went to school with Leakey and Arie and played against Colby growing up so it is just really cool to see how they’re going and they’re all really good chances to get picked up early which is great and it is a good time for Tassie footy.”

ON THE FIELD

No doubt being part of the AFL Academy, the Allies and the Dragons has helped him improve out of sight this season, but Sanders believes the move to Melbourne Grammar has been a contributing factor in handling the rigours of his draft year.

While they struggled on-field this year in the APS competition, winning just two of their 10 games, he said the guidance of former AFL player and VFL coach Brad Gotch, the school’s Head of Football, and coach Leigh Clarke has been invaluable.

Clarke has extensive experience in the development space, having coached the Oakleigh Chargers and Northern Knights in the CTL.

Meanwhile, Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy has given the midfielder some handy pointers in his role as assistant coach, including advice on what his teammates, like Pies sensation Nick Daicos, do to get better.

Sanders played just half of the APS season due to his AFL Academy and national championships commitments but was the top ranked player in the competition according to Premier Data, averaging 172 ranking points, 38.8 disposals, 8.4 clearances and 1.6 goals per game.

Sanders celebrates a goal for Melbourne Grammar. Picture: Supplied

Ryley Sanders and his Melbourne Grammar teammates. Picture: Supplied

“I think moving away from home has made me a lot more mature. And then that correlates to the footy stuff, like I think this year I’ve been able to deal with all the stuff that comes with trying to get drafted better than what I think I would have been able to if I was still I Tassie,” Sanders said.

“We have such a good program at school, I know we didn’t have the best wins and losses but just the culture, especially this year which was really good.

“Had ‘Gotchy’ who is a very established player and coach in the AFL so having him just always in my corner asking if I was going alright and stuff because he knows what I’m going through.

“I also had Nathan Murphy the Collingwood defender who was great for me as well, just have someone to talk to and he was always giving me tips on what the Nick Daicos’ and those types of blokes do to become elite midfielders.”

SECOND FAMILY

It wasn’t an easy transition, though, with Sanders finding it tough away from home, particularly in his first year at the school in Year 11.

But he formed a second family in the school’s First Nations program, which included 15 students from all over the country and was headed by former Collingwood and Sydney footballer Robbie Ahmat.

Sanders said that being part of this program was one of the highlights of attending the school and appreciated the support and guidance that Ahmat gave him.

From Darwin, Ahmat had felt a similar experience when he moved to Melbourne when he was drafted by Collingwood.

Robbie Ahmat played 25 games for Collingwood.

“Obviously I didn’t really think about when I was making the decision that I’d miss home but I definitely did at the beginning,” Sanders said.

“Had a really good support network, had Robbie Ahmat who is the Indigenous program manager at the school and he was amazing for me, he’s one of the best people I have ever met.

“It has definitely been one of the most enjoyable things I’ve experienced just looking after them and that so it is really good as I was saying having them to talk to and relate to if we’re all missing home and have a shoulder to lean on.

“You’ve obviously got your family that are, for me, back in Tassie but they’re kind of like my little brothers in Melbourne.”

FOREVER GRATEFUL

Sanders will always be grateful for the opportunity that Melbourne Grammar gave him and he hopes to give back to the school into the future if he remains in Victoria.

“I would have never have been able to go to Melbourne Grammar if it wasn’t for them offering me a scholarship and just kind of going out of their way to bring me over there and look after me and give me this amazing opportunity to go to probably one of the best schools in Australia,” Sanders said.

“Just forever grateful because I made so many amazing friends and met so many great people and feel like I’m really connected to the school.

“Hopefully if I do end up staying in Melbourne or whatever I’ll definitely try my best to give back to the school, whether that’s going in and helping out with training or going into the boarding house and helping out with the boys and stuff.”

Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Top prospect Ryley Sanders on his move from Tasmania to Melbourne Grammar