Ryan Houlihan
Encyclopedia
Ryan Houlihan is a former Australian rules football
er who played 12 seasons and 201 games for the Carlton Football Club
from 2000 to 2011.
, Adam
and Josh, from Wahgunyah on the Murray River, in northern Victoria. He has been by far the most successful of the four. An uncle, Paul O'Donoghue also played for North Melbourne in 1976. Prior to being recruited by Carlton he played as a junior for Corowa-Rutherglen and for the Murray Bushrangers under 18 team. He was named All Australian Under 16 in 1998 and represented Australia in the 1999 youth series against Ireland.
in 2000, after being selected in the AFL Draft
at pick #73 in 1999. He quickly had an impact for Carlton as a classy, skilful, running forward, with an uncanny ability to kick goals. The Carlton team of 2000 was a particularly strong one, with many great names such as Craig Bradley
, Stephen Silvagni
and Anthony Koutoufides
and finished second at the end of the home and away season. For a skinny 18 year old, pick #73, then weighing just 71 kg to break into that side and play every game from Round 17, including all three finals is a fair accomplishment and exceeded expectations. He ended up played 13 games in his debut season and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award
after a 20 possession game in the Round 20 blockbuster against Essendon before over 90,000 people. He also received the Carlton Past Players Encouragement Award for his debut season.
, which would seal the win and be celebrated by a 'Chainsaw' maneuver, would be a career highlight. He kicked three goals in the Round 5 victory over the Kangaroos. A versatile player, able to play a variety of positions, he was moved from the forward line to defense in mid 2003, where he was played as a running half back, who was able to set up forward thrusts with precise kicking. He would spend the next three seasons in that role. He finished 2003 off well with a team and new career high 31-possession effort and was one of the few players to stand up in the Round 22 thrashing by the Kangaroos. His improved consistency saw him finish in the top 10 in the Best and Fairest and in the top four for disposals and kicks for the first time. He has consistently been in the top 10 for average disposals and kicks every year from 2003. At the end of 2003 he received a lucrative offer to join Melbourne but stayed loyal to Carlton, where he has remained ever since.
, who he kept to just 9 possessions, Darren Milburn
to 2 kicks and Nathan Eagleton
to 11 possessions. A vigorous bump which left West Coast Eagle Matt Rosa
with concussion almost earned Houlihan his first and only suspension but it was deemed fair by the AFL tribunal. Overall, he increased his average possessions to 21 per game- statistically the best season of his career, ranking in the top few not only in uncontested possessions and handball-receives but also in hardball-gets and contested possessions, highlighting that he can win the ball as an inside or outside player.
, Alan Didak
, who he kept to a season low 10 possessions, Andrew McLeod
, who he kept to just 14 possessions, Aaron Davey
to a season low 4 possessions, Tadhg Kennelly
to 6 and Josh Drummond
to 12. He also played some high possession, more offensive games, highlighted by a season best 33 possessions in Round 20 against Essendon and despite a number of defensive roles, still finished second at the club for kicks and third for possessions. He had not kicked a lot of goals since being moved to defense but kicked three skilful goals for the first time in a game since 2003 in Round 11 against Port Adelaide. During that year, at just 25 years of age, he already achieved his 150th game, becoming the third youngest Carlton player to reach that milestone, having been a regular member of Carlton teams since the age of 18 and to that point had rarely missed games due to injury.
He was one of a number of Carlton players involved in off field incidents following Carlton players' 2009 Christmas party to be fined and suspended from pre-season training for a month. They were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and he applied himself so well that he achieved best ever levels of fitness and convinced the club he had the right attitude.
's departure, Houlihan became Carlton's longest serving player. He had a series of excellent performances playing as a defensive forward in 2010, in which he was given the task of negating the influence of the opposition’s key running defender, while using his skills to kick and set up goals. These included Simon Goodwin
, who he kept to a season low 4 kicks and 16 possessions, while kicking 3 goals; Corey Enright
, who he kept to 16 possessions, while kicking 2 goals and Sam Fisher, who he restricted to just 6 possessions- a season low. He kicked a career high 4 goals in the Round 11 victory over Melbourne. Unfortunately hamstring and knee injuries restricted him to just 13 games and he did not play any matches after Round 15, eventually requiring season ending surgery to his knee, after an unsuccessful attempt to come back. He kicked 15 goals and just 4 behinds for the year- a little over a goal per game and #1 at the club for accuracy (of those who had kicked 10 goals or more), an indication of his elite finishing skills in front of goal (as described by Champion Data). As well as kicking goals directly, he was also second at the club for goal assists per game. He finished a creditable 12th in the Best and Fairest, despite having missed 10 games. He would have made the top 10 on average votes per game. His excellent early season form prior to the first of his injuries had seen him in third place after seven rounds and in the top 10 when his season ended prematurely. Since finishing fourth in the 2007 Best and Fairest he had two seasons significantly affected by injury and missed the top 10 by one vote in the other.
to a near season low 10 possessions, while having 19 of his own and 2 goal assists. He played his 200th game in Round 19 against North Melbourne, the same side he had debuted against 11 years previously, becoming just the 31st player in the history of the Carlton Football Club
to achieve that. President and club great Stephen Kernahan
and Coach Brett Ratten
said he had been a great player for the club and had anticipated that the emotion of his milestone would motivate the team to win the match for him, which it did.
praised him for his loyalty and commitment to the club for 11 years, throughout its dark period and said it had been an honour to coach him. He said he will be remembered for his poise under pressure and smooth skills. In a radio interview after announcing his retirement, Ryan was asked if he felt he had got the most from his talent. He said he believed he had. He was honoured by the AFL in the 2011 Grand Final pre-match with a lap of honour as a retiring 200 game player.
calendar in 2002, 2003 and 2004, as well as the Gods of Football
calendar in 2009, voted one of the AFL's sexiest men, to help raise money for the McGrath Foundation
, supporting breast cancer
research and cancer awareness. He was also one of the featured footballers in Nova FM Radio Station's Naked footballers under the shower promotion in 2010.
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 who played 12 seasons and 201 games for the Carlton Football Club
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...
from 2000 to 2011.
Background
Ryan is one of four brothers who were all drafted to AFL clubs, alongside DamianDamian Houlihan
Damian Houlihan is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Australian Football League .Houlihan was the first of a set of four brothers to be drafted to the AFL...
, Adam
Adam Houlihan
Adam L. Houlihan is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League...
and Josh, from Wahgunyah on the Murray River, in northern Victoria. He has been by far the most successful of the four. An uncle, Paul O'Donoghue also played for North Melbourne in 1976. Prior to being recruited by Carlton he played as a junior for Corowa-Rutherglen and for the Murray Bushrangers under 18 team. He was named All Australian Under 16 in 1998 and represented Australia in the 1999 youth series against Ireland.
AFL Debut 2000
(Houla) "Hoops" (as he is often known) made his debut for the Carlton Football ClubCarlton 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...
in 2000, after being selected in the AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
at pick #73 in 1999. He quickly had an impact for Carlton as a classy, skilful, running forward, with an uncanny ability to kick goals. The Carlton team of 2000 was a particularly strong one, with many great names such as Craig Bradley
Craig Bradley
Craig Edwin "Braddles" Bradley is a former South Australian Australian rules footballer and first class cricketer. He is currently a part-time assistant coach at the Carlton Football Club, the club he represented 375 times in the VFL/AFL....
, Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni
Stephen Silvagni is a former Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club.During his long VFL/AFL career, from his debut in 1985, until his retirement in 2001, he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and was named as full-back in the AFL Team...
and Anthony Koutoufides
Anthony Koutoufides
Anthony Koutoufides is a former Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club. One of the most powerful and athletic players of all-time, he played in almost every position and was often called the prototype of the modern footballer.Of Greek and Italian descent, Koutoufides has been...
and finished second at the end of the home and away season. For a skinny 18 year old, pick #73, then weighing just 71 kg to break into that side and play every game from Round 17, including all three finals is a fair accomplishment and exceeded expectations. He ended up played 13 games in his debut season and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
after a 20 possession game in the Round 20 blockbuster against Essendon before over 90,000 people. He also received the Carlton Past Players Encouragement Award for his debut season.
2001
He continued on from his impressive debut season with an even better year in 2001, continuing as a forward. He played 23 of 24 games (missing one with injury) and kicked 28 goals. He played an important part, kicking three goals, when an undermanned Carlton had a surprise victory over reigning premiers Essendon in Round 3 and again in the Round 20 win over St Kilda. He also had a number of two-goal games that year.2002
Houlihan is a highly skilled player and has been extremely versatile, able to play a variety of positions. Early in 2002, while continuing to play as a forward, an electrifying three goals in a quarter got Carlton back into the Round 8 match against Hawthorn. Toward the end of 2002, he began to play off the half-back line, where his skill and run were used to set up forward thrusts. He played an important role off half back in the Round 21 victory against the Bulldogs, with 23 possessions and set up the winning goal.2003
A change of coach and an improved pre-season saw him bigger and stronger and he spoke of feeling more confident under Denis Pagan and wanting to win more contested ball. He played all 22 matches in 2003, the highlight being the Round 3 victory over Essendon, in which he would gather a then career best 28 possessions, kick two goals and receive the three Brownlow votes. His goal in the last quarter, in driving rain, from a tight angle in the forward pocketForward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
, which would seal the win and be celebrated by a 'Chainsaw' maneuver, would be a career highlight. He kicked three goals in the Round 5 victory over the Kangaroos. A versatile player, able to play a variety of positions, he was moved from the forward line to defense in mid 2003, where he was played as a running half back, who was able to set up forward thrusts with precise kicking. He would spend the next three seasons in that role. He finished 2003 off well with a team and new career high 31-possession effort and was one of the few players to stand up in the Round 22 thrashing by the Kangaroos. His improved consistency saw him finish in the top 10 in the Best and Fairest and in the top four for disposals and kicks for the first time. He has consistently been in the top 10 for average disposals and kicks every year from 2003. At the end of 2003 he received a lucrative offer to join Melbourne but stayed loyal to Carlton, where he has remained ever since.
2004
He had another consistent year off halfback in 2004, playing 21 of 22 games (troubled by groin problems late in the season), again finishing in the top 10 in the Best and Fairest and in the top five for disposals, marks and kicks.2005
Houlihan played his 100th game in season 2005 and became the third youngest Carlton player ever to achieve that mark (after Robert Walls and Lance Whitnall). He continued to mostly play in defense but in the absence of regular midfielders Camporeale and Scotland, was brought into the midfield in the drawn game against Port Adelaide in Round 4. He shone in that game and was probably Carlton's best player, with 26 disposals and was able to set up a number of goals with precise kicking.2006
He worked very hard during the 2006 pre-season, becoming a lot bigger, stronger and fitter, so he could play in the midfield. He played all 22 games in 2006, improving to become second at the club for kicks and disposals, highlighted by a career best 35 disposals in Round 4. In the second half of the year he was given run with roles on some of the best players in the AFL, such as Jason AkermanisJason Akermanis
Jason Dean Akermanis is an Australian rules football player. He is a Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs...
, who he kept to just 9 possessions, Darren Milburn
Darren Milburn
Darren Milburn , is an AFL assistant Coach for the Adelaide Crows and a retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League...
to 2 kicks and Nathan Eagleton
Nathan Eagleton
Nathan Eagleton is an Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .Eagleton played junior level football for West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League . He was recruited as a zone selection by the Port Adelaide Football Club for its inaugural AFL...
to 11 possessions. A vigorous bump which left West Coast Eagle Matt Rosa
Matt Rosa
Matthew "Matt" Rosa is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .He is a midfielder who was recruited as the number 29 draft pick in the 2004 AFL Draft from North Ballarat. Rosa made his debut for the West Coast Eagles in Round 17, 2005 against the Sydney Swans...
with concussion almost earned Houlihan his first and only suspension but it was deemed fair by the AFL tribunal. Overall, he increased his average possessions to 21 per game- statistically the best season of his career, ranking in the top few not only in uncontested possessions and handball-receives but also in hardball-gets and contested possessions, highlighting that he can win the ball as an inside or outside player.
2007
2007 saw him play 21 of 22 games (missing one game with illness) and record his best ever finish in the Club's Best and Fairest- fourth. He continued to perform run with roles in all parts of the ground on some of the AFL's best players, such as Gary Ablett Jr, James HirdJames Hird
James Hird is a former professional Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League....
, Alan Didak
Alan Didak
Alan Didak is a professional Australian rules footballer of Croatian descent playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League.- Early life :...
, who he kept to a season low 10 possessions, Andrew McLeod
Andrew McLeod
Andrew Luke McLeod is a former Australian rules footballer for the Adelaide Football Club. He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games....
, who he kept to just 14 possessions, Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey is a professional Australian rules football player of Indigenous Australian heritage. He currently plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
to a season low 4 possessions, Tadhg Kennelly
Tadhg Kennelly
Tadhg Kennelly is an Irish sportsperson known for his top level careers in both Gaelic football and Australian rules football....
to 6 and Josh Drummond
Josh Drummond
Josh Drummond is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He is a rebounding defender with a raking and pin-point left shoe. He is also capable of playing on a wing....
to 12. He also played some high possession, more offensive games, highlighted by a season best 33 possessions in Round 20 against Essendon and despite a number of defensive roles, still finished second at the club for kicks and third for possessions. He had not kicked a lot of goals since being moved to defense but kicked three skilful goals for the first time in a game since 2003 in Round 11 against Port Adelaide. During that year, at just 25 years of age, he already achieved his 150th game, becoming the third youngest Carlton player to reach that milestone, having been a regular member of Carlton teams since the age of 18 and to that point had rarely missed games due to injury.
2008
He had however been battling a hip problem for four years, which worsened after playing the first three games of 2008 and required surgery. A long recovery and rehab kept him out until the final two matches, but he made a spectacular return, kicking three classy goals in his first game back.2009
He played 20 games in 2009, at both ends of the ground, as Carlton returned to the Finals for the first time in eight years, although it only lasted one game. He kicked 13 goals for the year- his best since 2003- equal sixth at the club. He averaged 20 disposals per game (around the same as his last full season, 2007)- eighth at the club. He showed a lot of improvement in the defensive side of his game. He improved his tackling numbers to a career high 2.6 per game. He also improved his contested possessions and hardball-gets to career high levels, averaging 6 and 3 per game respectively and had as many as 14 contested possessions in the Round 16 game against Sydney. His best game of the year was probably the Elimination Final- in which he was judged second best player in Best and Fairest voting. He was one of just two players who had previously played in a final for Carlton the last time they made the finals in 2001 and took it upon himself to help prepare his younger teammates. He had 25 possessions (equal second highest), 10 of which were contested (equal highest), 5 clearances (second highest) and 3 tackles- one of which stopped a likely Brisbane goal. He scored an important early goal after smothering the ball, demonstrating the improved defensive side to his game to compliment his well known skill. He had a solid year in 2009, finishing 11th in the club's Best and Fairest, missing the top 10 by just one vote.He was one of a number of Carlton players involved in off field incidents following Carlton players' 2009 Christmas party to be fined and suspended from pre-season training for a month. They were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and he applied himself so well that he achieved best ever levels of fitness and convinced the club he had the right attitude.
2010
In 2010, following Brendan FevolaBrendan Fevola
Brendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
's departure, Houlihan became Carlton's longest serving player. He had a series of excellent performances playing as a defensive forward in 2010, in which he was given the task of negating the influence of the opposition’s key running defender, while using his skills to kick and set up goals. These included Simon Goodwin
Simon Goodwin
Simon Goodwin is a former Australian rules footballer, who is a dual premiership player with the Adelaide Football Club and is now an assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club.-Early career :...
, who he kept to a season low 4 kicks and 16 possessions, while kicking 3 goals; Corey Enright
Corey Enright
Corey Enright is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, who he kept to 16 possessions, while kicking 2 goals and Sam Fisher, who he restricted to just 6 possessions- a season low. He kicked a career high 4 goals in the Round 11 victory over Melbourne. Unfortunately hamstring and knee injuries restricted him to just 13 games and he did not play any matches after Round 15, eventually requiring season ending surgery to his knee, after an unsuccessful attempt to come back. He kicked 15 goals and just 4 behinds for the year- a little over a goal per game and #1 at the club for accuracy (of those who had kicked 10 goals or more), an indication of his elite finishing skills in front of goal (as described by Champion Data). As well as kicking goals directly, he was also second at the club for goal assists per game. He finished a creditable 12th in the Best and Fairest, despite having missed 10 games. He would have made the top 10 on average votes per game. His excellent early season form prior to the first of his injuries had seen him in third place after seven rounds and in the top 10 when his season ended prematurely. Since finishing fourth in the 2007 Best and Fairest he had two seasons significantly affected by injury and missed the top 10 by one vote in the other.
2011
He continued to suffer significant injury problems. A severe calf injury during the pre-season, which recurred several times and took more than 3 months to recover from, kept him out until Round 13- an absence of over 11 months since his last game. He was only seen briefly at the end of the game as the substitute player (a new innovation introduced in 2011). The following week, in Round 14, he returned to his role as a defensive forward, limiting key West Coast Eagles playmaker Shannon HurnShannon Hurn
Shannon William Hurn is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Hurn was selected in the 2005 AFL Draft and was listed by the West Coast Eagles...
to a near season low 10 possessions, while having 19 of his own and 2 goal assists. He played his 200th game in Round 19 against North Melbourne, the same side he had debuted against 11 years previously, becoming just the 31st player in the history of the Carlton Football Club
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...
to achieve that. President and club great Stephen Kernahan
Stephen Kernahan
Stephen Scott Kernahan is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his career with the Carlton Football Club of the Australian Football League and the Glenelg Football Club of the SANFL from 1981 until 1997...
and Coach Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten
Brett "Ratts" Ratten is a former Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League....
said he had been a great player for the club and had anticipated that the emotion of his milestone would motivate the team to win the match for him, which it did.
Retirement
After just one more senior game, Houlihan announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season- his 12th- to finish up with 201 games at 29 years of age. Injuries had caused him to miss 41 games. His time had come to step away, he stated. When asked "How would you like to be remembered?": “As a silky and skilful player who did his job for the team.” While he was widely regarded as one of the most skilful players to play AFL football in the 2000's decade, he was always prepared to put the team's needs ahead of his own. He was unfortunate to play a large part of his career in a side that struggled and was forced to take on roles- such as playing in defense and tagging- that a player as skilful as he should not have been expected to do. But he accepted whatever he was required to do for the team without question, generally performing well and limiting the effectiveness of some of the AFL's best. He started his career when Carlton were enjoying success, became the longest serving player to play through its unsuccessful period of the 2000's and was still there as the club returned to success. Coach Brett RattenBrett Ratten
Brett "Ratts" Ratten is a former Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League....
praised him for his loyalty and commitment to the club for 11 years, throughout its dark period and said it had been an honour to coach him. He said he will be remembered for his poise under pressure and smooth skills. In a radio interview after announcing his retirement, Ryan was asked if he felt he had got the most from his talent. He said he believed he had. He was honoured by the AFL in the 2011 Grand Final pre-match with a lap of honour as a retiring 200 game player.
Other facts
- He was a member of Carlton's Pre-Season Premiership teams in 2005 and 2007.
- He is the Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football ClubThe 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...
record holder for greatest number of games played in Guernsey #33, passing Peter McConvillePeter McConvillePeter McConville is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and St Kilda in the VFL.McConville was twenty when he made his debut for Carlton in the 1978 season and he started his career well, managing 38 goals in the season. He played in a variety of positions over the years...
's previous record of 140 games in 2007, at just 25 years of age. - He has played by far the most games of any AFL player to be picked at 73 in the draft.
- He was in the top 10 at the club for average disposals and kicks every year from 2003- 2010.
- He has consistently been nominated by former team mate and Coleman medalist Brendan FevolaBrendan FevolaBrendan Fevola is a professional Australian rules footballer. He played with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs in the Australian Football League....
as the most skillful player he has ever played with and clearly the best deliverer of the ball in his ability to pinpoint a pass to a forward’s advantage. Team mate, Brownlow medalist Chris JuddChris JuddChristopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
was willing to concede that. - In 201 games and 12 seasons he was never suspended by the AFL Tribunal
Off the field
He regularly featured in calendars throughout his career, semi-naked, including the Men For All SeasonsMen For All Seasons
The Men For All Seasons calendar was a popular and controversial pin up Wall calendar featuring Australian Football League players that was published periodically and was first printed in 1993.-Players featured:2004...
calendar in 2002, 2003 and 2004, as well as the Gods of Football
Gods Of Football
Gods of Football, part of Naked For A Cause initiative featured some of the sexiest Australian rules football players and Australian Rugby League players. The campaign was organized for producing an accompaying nude calendar to raise money for the McGrath Foundation, which supports breast cancer...
calendar in 2009, voted one of the AFL's sexiest men, to help raise money for the McGrath Foundation
McGrath Foundation
The McGrath Foundation is a breast cancer support and education charity in Australia, funding McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia as well as educating young women to be breast-aware...
, supporting breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
research and cancer awareness. He was also one of the featured footballers in Nova FM Radio Station's Naked footballers under the shower promotion in 2010.