Ryder, 17, was taken at selection number seven by Essendon – an enormous coup for the club that had rated him the number one pick in the draft. And the Western Australian was eager to get on with the job of playing AFL football. He made the trip across to Melbourne for the draft with his parents and his bags packed.
Ryder hailed from Geraldton before his family re-located to Perth and he joined the Clontarf Football Academy. He had his first training run with Essendon this morning and for Essendon fans wanting to get a look at him, he will be back on track this Wednesday morning.
""He is very family orientated and his family as a whole place a lot of importance of that. His dad is a community policeman and his mum looks after the rest of the troops. I have called into visit them and they have had people everywhere,"" McConnell said.
""One of his goals in life is to travel the world with his parents. The fact he got to bring them over for the draft might be the first step in realising that dream.
""In Ireland he used to stick with people he knew but he has a real warmth to him and sense of humour. It took a while to get it out of him but eventually he comfortable with the group.""
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McConnell said the International Rules football had not suited Ryder although he did look dangerous when on the ground. But he said he really liked what he saw of Ryder during the national championships.
""I don’t think the round ball game (International Rules) really suited him but when he was on the ground he always looked like he was going to score a goal,"" McConnell said.
""He was playing full forward and on kick-ins his opponent would lead him up the ground and run him around and he had no idea how to get his man to get back to full forward again. The good sign was that he initiated the conversation on how to resolve all of that – I think that is a good sign.""
""Watching his football in the national championships – he just had lovely touch. His control of the ball in ruck contests and use it was excellent. Often kids at that level are just happy to get their hands on the ball and hit it anywhere. He is a very good kick for a big fellow and very well balanced.""
McConnell said Ryder had grown significantly as a person in the past 12 months.
""I thought his interview at the draft camp was pretty exceptional given you wouldn’t get two words out of him 12 months ago. He was asked what was more important than football and his answer was to be a good person – I think that is a good sign,"" McConnell said.
