Emerging forward Finn Ryan training at VFL club Frankston
Des Ryan captained the Dolphins and now his son is training with the club after a promising year of senior football at Cheltenham.
Victorian Football
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Finn’s up at the Dolphins.
After a speedy rise in senior football at Cheltenham this year, 18-year-old forward Finn Ryan is training at VFL club Frankston under coach Danny Ryan (no relation).
“And he’s really enjoying it,’’ his father, Chelt coach Des, said yesterday.
“He’s just finished his Year 12 exams and he’s probably got one eye on Byron Bay, but his other eye is on Frankston.
“He’s loving it, to the point he’s worked out how to get there on the train! It must be a happy environment for him.’’
Des is happy his son is trying his luck at the Dolphins.
After finishing his league career at Richmond, he spent five years at Frankston, winning the best and fairest in 1994, captaining the club and coaching the reserves to a premiership.
Given that Finn has only just turned 18, he is also eligible to be listed as a 19-year-old player in the NAB League. The Sandringham Dragons have nominated him to AFL Victoria.
Under new AFL rules, VFL clubs will go into 2020 with “development lists’’ of 19-year-old players. Those listed as “Category B’’ can play in the VFL and NAB League.
VFL clubs must select at least one 19-year-old player in the team each week, in addition to the 23rd player.
Finn played juniors at Beaumaris and school football for Mentone Grammar before coming through with Cheltenham as a 17-year-old this year.
The lad taking this mark for Cheltenham in the Southern league Div 1 second-semi yesterday is Finn Ryan, son of Rosellas coach and ex-Tiger Des. He’s 17. And shit he can play. pic.twitter.com/cQ3NVpFRZK
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) September 8, 2019
He had trained with the Dragons as a bottom-age player and was placed on the supplementary list.
“He was a bit apprehensive about going back in his top-age year because of VCE,’’ Des Ryan said.
“He ended up not making the cut, and it was happiest day of his life. He wasn’t handling it. He wasn’t comfortable there. He probably lacked a bit of belief that he should be there. So instead he had a really good year with school footy and a handy year at Chelt. But he’s in a different position now. He’s got an appetite for it.’’
Ryan said he gave a “golden ticket’’ to Finn and fellow 17-year-olds Cam Blitsas and Luke Garnaut this year, and each did well for the senior Rosellas.
Finn is a 195cm right-footer.
“He covers the ground pretty good for a lanky kid, and he attacks the footy, and you make your own luck if you do that,’’ Des said.
“He likes to go for his marks. Marking is a confidence thing. If you’re confident, you take them. He’s all right in that area of his game. He’s got some improving to do in other areas.’’
Ryan said he told his son to take one of his old Frankston jumpers from the drawer and wear it at training.
The No 32 strip is now with Finn — and all going well he’ll take it into a VFL match.