Ryan Gamble
Encyclopedia
Ryan Gamble is an Australian rules football
uncontracted player in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Gamble previously played for the Geelong Football Club
and the St Kilda Football Club.
in South Australia
, and at the Glenelg Football Club in the SANFL
from the age of 17, predominately in the reserves, but gaining senior selection towards the end of the season. The Geelong Football Club
drafted him with their third round selection in the 2005 AFL Draft
(47th pick overall), making him the MSEFL's first AFL draftee.
team, rotating as a midfielder and forward, also noted as a prolific high-flyer
http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=290442. He gained senior AFL
selection for the final game of 2006
. He has shown a high skill level, and his light frame (78 kg) is the only thing likely to hinder him from gaining regular selection in the near future.
Gamble was unlucky not to gain selection at AFL level in 2007
, after a pre-season injury in which he tore ligaments in his ankle. He was almost certain to get a few more games under his belt, but his injury prevented him being right for selection for the first half of the season, and Geelong's success in 2007 meant few changes were made to the team each week, causing Gamble, as well as several other young players to miss out on senior selection throughout the year.
side in an exhibition match in London
. Many predicted he would make his senior breakthrough this year, provided he stay injury-free and he has managed to do so, being included in the Cats squad in round ones and two, kicking 4 goals as a small roving forward before succumnbing once again to injury, but after a one week absence he returned to the Cats lineup against St Kilda in round 4, however his single major wasn't enough to retain his place.
Since then he has made himself a very valuable squad member having played 4 games consecutively. His impressive form and 5 goals in a game in the VFL
earned him a place amongst the reserves and when David Wojcinski
pulled out at the last minute against the Western Bulldogs, Gamble filled the void impressively kicking 4 goals in the Cats 61 point win.
Gamble was a finalist in the 2008 Army Award
, which recognises acts of courage, intitiative and teamwork on the footy field.
2011: St Kilda era
He was handed a lifeline in the 2010 draft, with the saints using their 4th round pick to secure Gamble after he was delisted by Geelong at the end of 2010. He played the first 3 games of 2011 before being dropped back to the VFL. He returned later in round 12 and impressed over the next few weeks before his standout game came in round 16 against the Power, kicking 4 goals and earning a brownlow vote for his efforts. His coach praised his defensive efforts and people suddenly believed that 'the gamble' had paid off. He was dropped several weeks later and never made it back into the side. New coach Scott Watters axed Gamble from the list after 11 games and 11 goals in Saints colours. A lot of people believe that this decision was very harsh after he impressed in most of his games when given an opportunity.
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...
uncontracted player in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). Gamble previously played for the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and the St Kilda Football Club.
Early life
Gamble played his junior football at the Mt Burr United Football Club, from the MSEFLMid South Eastern Football League
The Mid South Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, Australia...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and at the Glenelg Football Club in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
from the age of 17, predominately in the reserves, but gaining senior selection towards the end of the season. The Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
drafted him with their third round selection in the 2005 AFL Draft
2005 AFL Draft
The 2005 AFL Draft was the 2005 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.The 2005 Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period...
(47th pick overall), making him the MSEFL's first AFL draftee.
Career
Gamble spent almost all of the 2006 season playing for the Geelong VFLVFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
team, rotating as a midfielder and forward, also noted as a prolific high-flyer
Specky
A spectacular mark is a term for a type of mark in Australian rules football...
http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=290442. He gained senior AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
selection for the final game of 2006
2006 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final...
. He has shown a high skill level, and his light frame (78 kg) is the only thing likely to hinder him from gaining regular selection in the near future.
Gamble was unlucky not to gain selection at AFL level in 2007
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
, after a pre-season injury in which he tore ligaments in his ankle. He was almost certain to get a few more games under his belt, but his injury prevented him being right for selection for the first half of the season, and Geelong's success in 2007 meant few changes were made to the team each week, causing Gamble, as well as several other young players to miss out on senior selection throughout the year.
2008 season
Gamble impressed in the pre-season after kicking 5 goals against a strong Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
side in an exhibition match in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Many predicted he would make his senior breakthrough this year, provided he stay injury-free and he has managed to do so, being included in the Cats squad in round ones and two, kicking 4 goals as a small roving forward before succumnbing once again to injury, but after a one week absence he returned to the Cats lineup against St Kilda in round 4, however his single major wasn't enough to retain his place.
Since then he has made himself a very valuable squad member having played 4 games consecutively. His impressive form and 5 goals in a game in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
earned him a place amongst the reserves and when David Wojcinski
David Wojcinski
David "Wojo" Wojcinski is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Career:Wojcinski made his debut in 1998. He won the club's Most Improved Player award for 2004....
pulled out at the last minute against the Western Bulldogs, Gamble filled the void impressively kicking 4 goals in the Cats 61 point win.
Gamble was a finalist in the 2008 Army Award
AFL Army Award
From 2007 until 2009 the Australian Football League produced the AFL Army Award to recognise players who produced significant acts of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of their team during a game...
, which recognises acts of courage, intitiative and teamwork on the footy field.
2011: St Kilda era
He was handed a lifeline in the 2010 draft, with the saints using their 4th round pick to secure Gamble after he was delisted by Geelong at the end of 2010. He played the first 3 games of 2011 before being dropped back to the VFL. He returned later in round 12 and impressed over the next few weeks before his standout game came in round 16 against the Power, kicking 4 goals and earning a brownlow vote for his efforts. His coach praised his defensive efforts and people suddenly believed that 'the gamble' had paid off. He was dropped several weeks later and never made it back into the side. New coach Scott Watters axed Gamble from the list after 11 games and 11 goals in Saints colours. A lot of people believe that this decision was very harsh after he impressed in most of his games when given an opportunity.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of round 19 of 2008 season
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
Geelong | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Geelong | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Geelong | 15 | 11 | 19 | 12 | 70 | 51 | 65 | 135 |
| Totals | 12 | 19 | 12 | 75 | 55 | 68 | 143 | ||