Footy rivals come together to help Ryan Wiggins’ fight
LOCAL football fans are being urged to come out in force for this weekend’s Eastern Shore TSL derby — with Clarence to donate all its gate takings from its clash with Lauderdale to aid the recovery of Ryan Wiggins. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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LOCAL football fans are being urged to come out in force for this weekend’s Eastern Shore TSL derby — with Clarence to donate all its gate takings from its clash with Lauderdale to aid the recovery of Ryan Wiggins.
Wiggins, who was tragically injured in an off-field incident last weekend, spent more than a decade of his football career at the Bombers before joining Cygnet in the SFL this season.
Roos coach Jeromey Webberley said his club — and the wider State League football community — had no hesitation in helping out in any way it could.
“The club is donating the gate takings, which is a really nice gesture. Firstly I think it has been amazing to see the support one from the community but two from the footy community,” Webberley said.
“I saw North Launceston had donated some money, AFL Tasmania, I know the Tigers this weekend are doing some stuff as well, Glenorchy next week.
“Clarence is obviously doing the gate takings and the players are going to put some stuff together tonight as well.”
Tasmania University Football Club will also hold a raffle and silent auction at this Saturday’s fixtures against Hutchins School Old Boys Football Club at Uni Oval, with all money raised going towards Ryan’s Gofundme.
When Ryan’s fiancee told him about fundraising efforts by the Tasmanian community as he lay in his hospital bed, it “brought a tear to his eye”.
The GoFundMe campaign for the footy star has raised about $145,000 after an off-field accident left him fighting for life and facing severe paralysis.
Efforts are currently under way to get Ryan airlifted by private plane to Austin Hospital in Melbourne this afternoon where he will undergo another surgery.
Ryan is still on life support and requires a respirator and the logistics of transporting him to Melbourne for specialist surgery are still being finalised.
GoFundMe organiser Mathew Sadkowski shared an update last night:
“Michaela shared with me tonight, in rare moment she was able to tell Ryan just what you have all done for him and it bought a tear to his eye … I thank everyone for your love and support,” Mr Sadkowski said.
Ryan’s current condition means the specially chartered plane will need to fly at low altitude and Ryan must be on life support during the entire transit to Melbourne where the aim of the surgery will be to allow Ryan to breathe unassisted.
Footy club ‘rocked to the core’
Cygnet Football Club president David O’Neill says the club “has been rocked to the core” over the tragic accident involving Ryan Wiggins over the weekend.
The Cygnet Football Club has been rocked to the core over the tragic accident involving Ryan Wiggins over the weekend.
“We open our hearts to Ryan’s partner Michaela, his family Kelvin, Annette, Caitlyn and their families. As Ryan’s friend and football club we offer our love, respect and support now and into the future for the road ahead,” O’Neill said.
“Ryan first came to our club in 2020 as a supporter watching his mate Thor do his best for the PORT on the field. In 2021 he signed on as our gun recruit, able to play back or up forward.
“Ryan had every right to strut into our club as the alpha player of our senior group but he came to our club with humility, professionalism and no fuss attitude.
“His focus was being part of a team and to bring something of himself to our club.
“We truly believe a big part of the Cygnet Football Club’s on field success is we are a strong united team rather than a collection of individuals and Ryan was a firm believer in this.
“Ryan let his actions on the field and training track do the talking of what calibre of player and person he is.”
O’Neill said Ryan quickly made good friends and is the perfect fit for our club.
“In reality he is a massive loss to our team and we have no-one who can fill those boots on their own, but given Ryan’s selfless nature and team focus he will be expecting our club and players to collectively improve and step up to the plate to cover his absence from the field,” he said.
“We sincerely appreciate the enormous support we have received this week, especially to Andy Bennett and AFL Tas, who at the drop of a hat arranged counsellors to attend our club rooms.
“Thankyou to the SFL executive and all SFL clubs for their support and in particular for postponing men’s and div two women’s matches this weekend out of respect for Ryan.
“We appreciate that Ryan has many friends and mates throughout the football community who are really feeling down at this time and we ask everyone to look after each other.”
O’Neill also extended the club’s “love and support” to Ryan’s former team, the Lauderdale Football Club.
“Finally to Thor, our players, coaches and supporters, we are heartbroken at the moment and many of us are suffering but know deep down we are a strong and united club and community,” he said.
“We will wrap our collective arms around everyone and together we will strive to help all through this difficult time.”
Footy mates help to fundraise
To help with the fundraising efforts, local footy administrator Jaimes Wiggins has put up for auction two footy jumpers signed by former AFL stars with the proceeds going to the GoFundMe page.
Mr Wiggins is the organiser of the ‘Relive the Rivalry’ legends match which each year features a footy game played between past AFL and Tasmanian footy legends and raises money for local charities.
Mr Wiggins had eight footy legends sign last year’s Relive the Rivalry footy jumper and decided to auction off two of the limited jumpers to help out with the special cause.
The two jumpers are signed by Brendan Fevola, Michael O’Loughlin, Dermott Brereton, Dustin Fletcher, Matthew Richardson, Russell Robertson, Paul Williams, and Paul Hudson.
“When I thought about what I could do for Ryan and what’s gone on I thought auctioning off the jumpers was the least I could do,” Mr Wiggins said.
“What happened to Ryan is tragic and I ‘d just like to say the response to this tragedy and to the Go Fund Me page has been amazing and typical of Tasmanians and the footy community at large and this is just the start. There’s going to be ongoing costs for Ryan and his family so I’m sure there are other people out there that are planning on putting events together to raise some money for the ongoing costs,” he said.
Mr Wiggins said he was also in the preliminary stages of planning to hold a special T20 cricket match this coming summer in the Huon Valley that would involve a host of famous personalities and would be to raise money for the ongoing cost that Ryan’s tragedy will involve.
The auction for the special footy jumpers ends at 5pm today, Wednesday, July 7, 2021.
To bid on the jumpers visit the Relive the Rivalry Facebook page.
EARLIER:
A CLOSE-knit family, two football clubs and the wider footy community have been left devastated by an accident that has left a young star battling for his life and facing severe paralysis.
Ryan Wiggins, 26, was left with severe spinal injuries from the accident on Saturday night.
Recently engaged to Michaela Sadkowski on Valentine’s Day, the young couple were planning their wedding and life together when the tragedy occurred.
The SFL has postponed all men’s competitions this weekend, while women’s SFL division 2 (which features Cygnet), has also been rescheduled.
The Cygnet and former Lauderdale forward has already undergone multiple surgeries, his elder sister Caitlyn told the Mercury.
“This has truly been heartbreaking for Ryan, his fiancee Micky and his beautiful family,” Caitlyn said.
“He is in a critical condition fighting for his life at the Royal Hobart Hospital and early diagnoses suggest he may end up paralysed.
“Ryan had a seven-hour surgery on Sunday and another one scheduled this morning in the hope that this will stabilise him so he can be airlifted to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne today.
“Once he is at The Austin Hospital a full diagnosis can be made and they will provide emergency care following his traumatic spinal injury and also spinal rehabilitation.”
She said her baby brother was never one to sit still and the devastating change of life would hit him particularly hard.
“As a very active person, if not working as a builder or renovating he and his fiancee Micky’s home, you’d find Ryan training or playing football, catching up with mates, planning a wedding and walking his fur babies,” she said.
“Ryan is the kind of bloke that would give you the shirt off his back if he thought it would help you.
“He would always lend a hand if needed and never ask for anything in return.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs of surgery, rehabilitation, flights and accommodation in Melbourne.
“I’m reaching out to you all to help with a donation, no matter how small, it will make a huge difference to Ryan and his recovery,” she said.
Former Lauderdale coach Darren Winter coached Wiggins for 10 years and said the tragic accident left him and his family speechless — but said if anyone could fight this battle it was Ryan.
“We were just stunned by the news. I was with my family when we were told about it all and we were pretty shocked and not much was said for a fair period of time after we were told,” Winter said.
“Ryan has shown over a long period of time that he’s a man of great character and he’s a fighter and if anyone can pull through then it’s him.
“In events like these people show the best side of humanity and get in and support. The whole community, even opposition clubs are pitching in and helping out with the GoFundMe and I think the love and the best wishes from friends and the whole community will certainly be very helpful to his family.”
SFL president Russell Young said the SFL executive board made contact with each of the SFL clubs on Monday night and asked for their opinion on postponing this weekend’s round of matches and each club agreed that it was the right decision to do so.
Mr Young said that Ryan had many mates from other teams in the competition and that postponing the games was the right call.
“The tragic accident clearly has an effect on Cygnet but on many other clubs as well, and out of respect we made the decision that we should postpone this weekend’s rounds because we feel that many players wouldn’t be in the right headspace to go ahead and play this weekend,” he said.
“Ryan is a fantastic, enthusiastic young man and a talented footballer,” an SFL spokesperson said when the postponed matches were announced.
“Ryan is a much-loved and respected member of the Cygnet Football Club and the SFL, representing the competition against the NWFL in May this year.
“He is also a favourite son and life member of the Lauderdale Football Club and came through the Tasmanian Devils Talent Program.”
Family and friends have launched a GoFundMe page for Ryan’s ongoing care and has so far raised over $120,000.
“As some may know Ryan suffered a near fatal accident Saturday night. This has resulted in him suffering from a spinal injury,” the fundraiser explains.
“Early diagnosis suggests he will have mobile complications, and no sensation below the neck. A full diagnosis can not be obtained until he is moved to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne later this week.
“Costs for surgeries, ongoing rehab, trips to Melbourne and accommodation is going to run into the tens of thousands.
“To see him cut down, and knowing that they were planning a wedding is truly heartbreaking.”
TSL and SFL clubs across the state are also rallying behind the young player.
“The Lauderdale Football Club community have Ryan and all of the Wiggins family in our thoughts,” a statement on the club’s Facebook page said.
“We send our love and support at this difficult time.”
“On the football field clubs battle against each other every weekend of the season for victory, but in times of need following significant injury to players, the football community becomes unified together off field in support of one another,” Kingborough Tigers Football Club said in a statement on their Facebook page.
“Cygnet Football Club player Ryan Wiggins suffered a terrible and near-fatal accident over the weekend, resulting in a serious spinal injury.
“From everyone in Tigerland we pass on our best wishes and thoughts to Ryan and his family at this time.”
To donate to Ryan’s GoFundMe, visit the link here.
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