Ryan

Patrick Daniel Ryan played his one and only game for Carlton against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, July 5, 1913. A stocky utility who had been recruited from Dookie (north west of Benalla), Ryan supported Harry Haughton and Viv Valentine in Carlton’s first ruck that afternoon, as the Blues suffered a shock loss to the Demons.

That defeat put the team’s finals hopes in jeopardy, leading coach Jack Wells to make several changes to the side ahead of the following week’s clash with arch-rivals Collingwood. Ryan was among a number of players omitted, and he wasn’t able to earn promotion to the senior side again. Before year’s end he had retuned to country football, where in time he represented Seymour (Victoria) and Berrima (NSW). Prior to joining the Blues he had also played for St. Patricks in Albury, St. James and Dookie.

Tragically, Ryan passed away in the Albury District Hospital on August 14, 1937, from acute pneumonia. He was aged 50.