
West Coast star Liam Ryan reveals aftermath of crunching head clash in Melbourne loss
Ryan was left worse for wear after clashing heads with Rivers in the second quarter of their disastrous loss to Melbourne on Saturday.
He was taken from the ground but did return after passing a HIA test with a massive bandage after staples were put into his head after suffering a cut.
Now, Ryan has shown off the aftermath with his eye almost completely swollen over, with the cut still fresh above.
Post-game coach Andrew McQualter said Ryan was sore but was hopeful he would be fit to face Adelaide this weekend.
'Hopefully it's not too serious, but I haven't really got an update on it yet. He's a bit sore at the moment,' he said.
Ryan's bravery to continue on after the big knock might also set an example for the Eagles after McQualter admitted his side is simply not tough enough in their loss to the Demons.
'We're not tough enough at all as a football club, as a football team at the moment,' McQualter said.
'That's got nothing to do with age. That's something that we just can't accept.'
'We might have to (go old school), because at the moment, when you get performances like that, you have to improve them by training.'

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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Pezet eyes week-to-week NRL in Storm spine squeeze
Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment." Jonah Pezet says he wants to chase the opportunity to play in the NRL every week, but insists a loan deal away from Melbourne is not yet at the front of his mind. Melbourne's half-in-waiting for several years, Pezet has been named to come off the bench against Brisbane on Thursday night with Jahrome Hughes injured. Pezet is signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that allowed him to speak to rivals if Hughes re-signed. Hughes did so last week, extending his time in purple until 2030. The other factor is the future of Cameron Munster, who is contracted until the end of 2027 but been linked to potential Perth interest. Both Pezet and Munster share a manager in Braith Anasta, while a loan deal could potentially buy time for Munster to decide his future beyond his current deal. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. "But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." Melbourne hooker Harry Grant this week backed the idea of loans, speaking of the good it did him at Wests Tigers while stuck behind Cameron Smith in 2020. Asked whether a loan deal could be an option for him, Pezet said it was not something he wanted to be considering. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. "Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on." The Storm have stuck with Tyran Wishart as Hughes' replacement at No.7, after the reigning Dally M Medallist dislocated his shoulder last month. Bellamy on Wednesday left the door open for Hughes to return before finals, with the 22-year-old avoiding surgery and back training away from the main squad. Melbourne have not got a specific plan for Pezet off the bench, who has had limited football in the past 16 months with an ACL rupture and subsequent setback. Pezet was brought on at halfback late in last week's win over Parramatta, with Wishart shifting to lock. "I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position," Pezet said. "But that's not what's best for the team at the moment."


West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Community rallies around Jordan's DIY Big Freeze to raise about $93,000 for motor neurone disease
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Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Community generosity shines for Jords' Big Freeze
Shirvo takes the icy plunge at Big Freeze 11 Community generosity outshone even the return of dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe in Claremont on Saturday as nearly $100,000 was raised for motor neurone disease during Jordan's DIY Big Freeze. Sporting legends united ahead of the Tigers' WAFL clash with Peel Thunder, braving torrential downpours before hitting the ice water to support local father Jordan Early. Mr Early was diagnosed with MND just five months ago, but the disease has already stolen his strength and part of his speech. 'I got weaker, I started to struggle with my speech, not as bad as it is now, but those were the first signs,' he said. Olympian Jayde Taylor goes down the slide. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian 'It's a battle every day, because it's degenerative, things are changing all the time. So you might lose one function, but something else shows up.' The 42-year-old is a father to three young children, alongside partner Jo Moullin, including one who attends school alongside AFLW legend and current West Coast women's coach Daisy Pearce's twins. Jordan Early and Jo Moullin. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian Pearce, a seasoned slider after being a part of the inaugural Big Freeze in Melbourne in support of AFL champion Neale Daniher, was one of the first to sign on to support the Early family. 'Sebby, their eldest son, goes to school with my twins, and it's an amazing community. To see Jo and Jords with everything they're going through with their three kids is pretty eye-opening, and I want to do everything I can to support them,' Pearce said ahead of the event. AFLW West Coast coach Daisy Pearce. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'To watch a family like theirs go through it is terrible, but to see their strength and courage as they do and to think about everything they're battling as a family with three young kids (is inspiring). 'To see their generosity and their spirit to give what they can and to inspire people to do what they can to ensure future families don't go through what they are is so humbling.' Freddie Davies 5yo enjoying the puddles at Claremont Oval. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian The big-name sliders didn't end with Pearce, as the initiative raised about $93,000. Eagles legend and current head of football at the battling club, John Worsfold, donned a skirt and tennis racket as he went down the slide. John Worsfold slides. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian Former tennis star Alicia Molik sported perhaps the most popular outfit, emulating rising star Harley Reid in a headband and West Coast jumper. 2006 Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley continued the trend of Eagles to head down the slide, dressing as Australian children's cartoon favourite Bluey. Rudy Davies 2yo enjoying the puddles at Claremont Oval. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian West Coast have been a staunch supporter of fundraising for MND, given Daniher's connection to the club as well as the fact that he was working there when he was diagnosed. Two-time Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning Hockeyroo Jade Taylor, the first down the slide, also took inspiration from the younger generation, dressing as Minnie Mouse. Alicia Molik heads into the water. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian The end of the sliding didn't deter the strong crowd from sticking around as Fremantle champion Fyfe returned from a calf injury with Peel. The 33-year-old wasn't fussed with the thick mud and rain, standing head and shoulders above the competition, collecting 28 disposals, six tackles and five clearances in a little more than a half of footy. Nat Fyfe in action. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian He was also a favourite among the fans, taking time to sign footballs on his way off the water-logged ground at half-time before taking photos and having a brief chat with fans post-game, his documentary crew never far away.