Pick 6 in mid season draft
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Pick 6 in mid season draft
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The Western Bulldogs have selected Ryan Gardner with pick six in the 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
A 21-year-old key position player, Gardner has plied his trade for Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL this season.
Standing at 197-centimetres tall, the Tasmanian product has filled a variety of roles at VFL level in 2019.
Known for his competitiveness, athleticism and versatility, Gardner has impressed in his appearances for Footscray.
He kicked eight goals in his first three matches this season, and has also spent time in defence and in the ruck.
Prior to that, he spent three years on Geelong’s list without playing an AFL game, after being drafted with pick 59 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.
He was a durable performer for the Cats at VFL level, playing 52 games between 2016 and 2018.
Welcome Ryan.
Some much needed height that's for sure. I've seen nothing of him, hopefully he can play.
I wonder if Ryan has ever thought about playing on the wing before?
Happy to add to our KPP options, seems to have a bit of mobility about him for his size.
Only 21 so plenty of development left. The last tall delisted player we took from Geelong ended up serving us well.
Welcome to the Dogs Ryan! Good luck!
We needed a tall and got one nice work. Keep it simple for the kid, its either Forward or Defence for the rest of the year, lets give him every chance to make it.
As long as he's not called Bailey. Welcome Ryan.
Welcome to Full Forward son :)
Nickname is Plugga ... hope he kicks goals like him.
Takes on Number 43 (Redpath's old number)
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-...ig-bet-to-mate
GEELONG skipper Joel Selwood has taken it upon himself to try and dig teammate Jake Kolodjashnij out of trouble after a costly bet came to fruition on Saturday.
Kolodjashnij agreed to pay for the end-of-season trip flights for Ryan Gardner if the defender-turned-forward kicked six goals against Northern Blues in the VFL.
After taking on the nickname of 'Plugger' since his move forward in the past fortnight, Gardner will soon be laughing all the way to the USA.
"It wasn't a great week for Kolodjashnij to give him a little dig and say, 'If you kick six goals, I'll pay for your flights to USA'," defender Zach Tuohy told the club's website.
"I'm sure it's one of those, 'Of course he's not going to do it'."
"We come in after the Gold Coast (AFL) game and written up on the whiteboard is 'Plugger Gardner six goals' and you could see Kola's face just go white.
"Not the week to mock your teammate but he's out of pocket, Kola."
Gardner entered the final term of the 70-point VFL win with four majors to his name, kicking his fifth at the 10-minute mark before landing number six with less than five minutes on the clock.
"Joel Selwood's talked about passing the hat around for poor old Kola because he's made the big call he'll pay for his (Gardner's) trip away if he kicked six," coach Chris Scott said on Thursday.
"I think Jake's on reasonable money, but that's going to hurt him a little bit."
Gardner's freedom in attack could be hampered with last week's AFL travelling emergency Stewart Crameri set to resume in the VFL on Saturday, with no changes expected for the senior side.
Gardner goes from draftee to debutant
Ryan Gardner will make his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium.
It’s been a whirlwind first 24-hours as an AFL draftee for the 21-year-old, 197-centimetre key position player, who was recruited by the Bulldogs with pick six in the 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Draft.
After selecting Gardner on Monday night, Dogs’ General Manager of List and recruiting, Sam Power, said the new recruit was ‘physically ready’.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge waited no longer than Gardner’s first official AFL team meeting on Tuesday afternoon to break the news to the players that he would immediately make his debut.
He will receive his opportunity in a tough first-up challenge, against the reigning premiers on their home turf this Sunday.
Gardner had spent the first half of 2019 on Footscray’s VFL list, spending time at both ends of the ground and pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs, he spent three years at Geelong (2016-2018) without making an AFL appearance.
The Bulldogs will name a 26-player squad for the trip to Perth on Thursday night, which will be reduced to a 22-player team on Friday.
There's a video on the page with Ryan calling his Dad, telling him to book flights to Perth.
Ryan is currently epitomising the phrase "A Week is a long time in football".