Meet our Members - Ryan

We won't ask you your age but how long have you been a Melbourne supporter?
Since I turned 4, so that makes it about 37 years.

How did you become a Melbourne supporter?
I was fascinated with Melbourne for some reason. I liked Robbie Flower and Steven Stretch and liked the colour and the logo. I started cutting all the Demons pictures out of the newspaper, carefully avoiding all images of players from other teams. I think Mum (a Collingwood supporter) thought I'd grow out of it but that's yet to happen.

How long have you been in the cheer squad? And what made you decide to join?
I joined in 1998 because it looked like great fun. It seemed like the place to be for noisy, passionate Melbourne supporters.

Favourite current player?
Max Gawn

Favourite Melbourne player ever?
Have you got an hour to listen to me debate with myself over Steven Stretch, Jeff White, Allen Jakovich, Neville Jetta, Max Gawn, Jeff Farmer and Jim Stynes.

Favourite game?
I really loved the game in 2018 against West Coast when we qualified for the finals, just for what it represented (see photo for the aftermath!) Those years in the wilderness were pretty hard when you're trying to remain enthusiastic and get people to join in with the chants.

Greatest player ever? This can be from any club.
Gary Ablett Snr was incredible but I'm adding Max Gawn as well. 

Highest point in your footballing career
2021 Grand Final is hard to go past (but scarring at the same time for obvious reasons).

Lowest point in your footballing career
186 point loss against Geelong was pretty soul-destroying​

Any football superstitions?
I think I've got better as I've got older. These days I just need to wear the same boxers and the same socks each week.

As a kid, I was a little more intense. I used to high five my posters as I left for a game and had severe anxiety at the thought of being late for a game or worse, missing one. 

Craziest thing you've ever done for the Dees.
Where do I start? Other than Covid, I haven't missed a game for almost 30 years. I went by myself to China for an MFC exhibition match (48 in hours in Shanghai, home on red eye, straight to an important work meeting). I often ran away from home to go to games. And I lied to my parents, saying I'm staying at a friends house and then got on a bus to Adelaide!