Ryan Crowley
Encyclopedia
Ryan Crowley is an Australian rules football
er. He plays as a midfielder, half forward flanker or small forward and began his football career at Calder Cannons
Football Club in the TAC Cup
.
. At the end of 2004, having only played WAFL
football for Subiaco
, he was delisted. However the club gave Crowley a second chance and re-selected him with their 3rd pick in the rookie draft. Good form with Subiaco in 2005 led to his elevation to the senior list when both Robert Haddrill
and his replacement Michael Warren
were placed on the long term injury list.
His debut was notable in that he became only the 3rd Fremantle player to kick 3 goals on debut (along with Leigh Wardell-Johnson
and Paul Medhurst
), and those goals helped Fremantle to record their first ever win at Skilled Stadium in Geelong.
His continued good form in the second half of the 2005 season including 4 goals against Carlton
at the MCG
saw Ryan elevated to the senior list for the 2006 season. Early in the 2006 season, Ryan got a heavy blow to the face during a shepherd from Byron Pickett
, and received a broken cheekbone.
Crowley continued to improve throughout the 2007 season, having gathered 319 disposals in 19 games and earning a regular spot in the Fremantle midfield as a winger/onballer who can kick goals. In 2008, however, he developed into a defensive midfielder or tagger and notoriously played on opposition stars such as Gary Ablett, Jr.
and Daniel Kerr
. He finished the year well, coming equal fifth in Fremantle's fairest and best award, the Doig Medal
.
In 2009 Crowley injured his foot in the Round 6 Western Derby
and was ruled out for between three months and the entire season. He didn't return to the Fremantle side until the first round of 2010. He played the first 16 games of the season, before injuring his knee against Melbourne, missing the next six games. He returned for Fremtantle's two finals, after proving his fitness in a dominant display in the WAFL
for Subiaco, kicking seven goals.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er. He plays as a midfielder, half forward flanker or small forward and began his football career at Calder Cannons
Calder Cannons
The Calder Cannons are an Australian rules football club from Melbourne, Australia.The club competes in the TAC Cup and fields squads in the U15, 16 and most importantly the U18s. The club was formed in 1995 after the need for two more metropolitan clubs...
Football Club in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
.
Fremantle career
Crowley was first drafted by Fremantle in 2002 with selection 55 at the national draft2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
. At the end of 2004, having only played WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
football for Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
, he was delisted. However the club gave Crowley a second chance and re-selected him with their 3rd pick in the rookie draft. Good form with Subiaco in 2005 led to his elevation to the senior list when both Robert Haddrill
Robert Haddrill
Robert "Robbie" Haddrill is a defender for the South Fremantle Football Club, having previously played for the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL for seven seasons....
and his replacement Michael Warren
Michael Warren (Australian rules footballer)
Michael Warren is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Claremont in the West Australian Football League and once played for Fremantle in the Australian Football League. He plays as a ruckman or key defender....
were placed on the long term injury list.
His debut was notable in that he became only the 3rd Fremantle player to kick 3 goals on debut (along with Leigh Wardell-Johnson
Leigh Wardell-Johnson
Leigh Wardell-Johnson is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Dockers in 1995. He was drafted from Claremont in the WAFL as a foundation selection in the 1994 AFL Draft and played as a half-forward.-External links:...
and Paul Medhurst
Paul Medhurst
Paul Medhurst is a former professional Australian rules football who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Collingwood Football Club....
), and those goals helped Fremantle to record their first ever win at Skilled Stadium in Geelong.
His continued good form in the second half of the 2005 season including 4 goals against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
saw Ryan elevated to the senior list for the 2006 season. Early in the 2006 season, Ryan got a heavy blow to the face during a shepherd from Byron Pickett
Byron Pickett
Byron Pickett is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played with three clubs in the AFL. He was known as a big game player as well as for his strength, hard bumps and tough approach to the game. Pickett is one of 12 players with two premiership medallions, a Norm Smith Medal...
, and received a broken cheekbone.
Crowley continued to improve throughout the 2007 season, having gathered 319 disposals in 19 games and earning a regular spot in the Fremantle midfield as a winger/onballer who can kick goals. In 2008, however, he developed into a defensive midfielder or tagger and notoriously played on opposition stars such as Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and Daniel Kerr
Daniel Kerr
Daniel Matthew Kerr is an Australian rules footballer.Kerr was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club and made his AFL debut in 2001 with the West Coast Eagles. He is a hard-running midfielder who is a vital part of the midfield at the Eagles.-Background:Kerr is of Anglo-Indian descent...
. He finished the year well, coming equal fifth in Fremantle's fairest and best award, the Doig Medal
Doig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
.
In 2009 Crowley injured his foot in the Round 6 Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
and was ruled out for between three months and the entire season. He didn't return to the Fremantle side until the first round of 2010. He played the first 16 games of the season, before injuring his knee against Melbourne, missing the next six games. He returned for Fremtantle's two finals, after proving his fitness in a dominant display in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
for Subiaco, kicking seven goals.