Mornington Peninsula league: Paddy Ryder’s stunning return for Devon Meadows

Former AFL star Paddy Ryder has lit up the Mornington Peninsula league with an eye-popping performance after a seven-week lay-off.

Ex-AFL star Paddy Ryder slotted 10 goals for Devon Meadows on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He’s back.

And Paddy Ryder means business, as he showed with a stunning 10-goal display at full forward for Devon Meadows in the Panthers’ 52-point win over Rye on Saturday.

Such was Ryder’s dominance, Devon coach Ryan Hendy took him off halfway during the last quarter, not wanting “to risk him”.

It was Ryder’s first game for Devon Meadows since kicking two goals in the opening round of the season on April 1.

Hendy said he was awesome.

“Oh mate, it was the easiest I’ve ever seen a footballer do it yesterday,” he said.

“That’s no exaggeration. It was like a man playing against junior kids.

“He could have kicked 15. He passed probably three or four off, missed a couple of easy ones and I took him off halfway during the last.”

Paddy Ryder.

Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

It’s understood Ryder took time away to deal with a calf injury and personal issues but he will be available to help Devon Meadows’ push for finals in Division 2.

“He’s been on a really strong diet and got himself fit,” Hendy said.

“He was just gliding along the ground yesterday. He wanted to go into the ruck but we had to hold him back.

“He’ll probably just play forward for the next couple of weeks, get some match time up and then in the back end of the year we will have the luxury of hopefully playing him in both positions, forward and ruck.”

Hendy added: “He loved it, he said it’s the best fun he’s had for a long time.’’

Devon Meadows kicked six goals in the opening 12 minutes of the match to set up its 18.7 (115) to 9.9 (63) victory.

While Ryder was the star of the show, Joel Hillis, Nathan Drew and Ryan Koo were also instrumentalt for the 4-3 Devon.

Rory Hillis booted two goals and Jamie Plumridge and Nick Battle impressed.

For Rye, Louis Barbour, Peter Hampton and Dylan Allen were among the best.

But the Panthers suffered a key injury blow, with co-captain and ex AFL-Demon and Saint Dean Kent re-injuring his hamstring.

“He has a little bit of tightness in his hamstrings…we’ve got Seaford this week and then the bye so we’ll probably look to rest him in the next couple of weeks so he’s ready to go after the bye,” Hendy said.

St Kilda has the bye in the AFL next weekend and some Saints will be at Devon Meadows on Saturday to watch their ex-teammates Ryder and Jack Lonie go up against each other.