The physical demands would be less and you know yourself when you get older and start to fall back through the grades the first few games at a lower level you play well because a/ you really don't want to be shown up by players who aren't at your level and b/ you have learned how to duck and dive and take shortcuts while still being an effective player.
Ryan will be fine and props to him for going back to his roots. I hope it works out for him and he enjoys his footy from now on because he looks like he has done anything but that these last few years.