WATCH: Has Ryan snared Goal of the Year with this effort?
Liam Ryan won the 2019 Mark of the Year with his heroics at the western end of Optus Stadium.
Six years later, he's a chance to snare Goal of the Year honours after a superb effort at the venue's eastern end.
Ryan looked to spark West Coast as the bottom-placed side attempted to reel in a half-time deficit against Richmond, producing some magic in the early stages of the third term to delight the home crowd.
Running onto a pass in the forward pocket that had been overcooked by Bailey Williams, Ryan grabbed the ball and flung a boot to it in the nick of time before crossing the boundary - and under severe pressure from Ben Miller
The snap bounced cruelly for Tigers defender Tylar Young, sailing over his head and through the major opening on the most acute angle.
WATCH THE GOAL IN THE PLAYER ABOVE Ryan and teammates celebrate. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images
Ryan celebrated with his arms in the air while lying on his back, before turning to the crowd in Optus Stadium's south-east corner to implore them to join in.
Having won the Mark of the Year prize for a hanger on Max Gawn's shoulders, Ryan can become the first-ever Eagle to win the Mark-Goal double at any point in their career.
Harley Reid snared last season's Goal of the Year prize for a fine running effort against Melbourne.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
WAFL 2025: East Perth belt West Coast as they look to cement top-three finish for finals
WAFL 2025: East Perth belt West Coast as they look to cement top-three finish for finals
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Under-fire Demons thrash struggling Eagles in AFL
Skipper Max Gawn has led from the front as embattled Melbourne responded to a week in the spotlight with a 83-point thrashing of struggling West Coast. Six days after their horror final-quarter capitulation to St Kilda piled pressure on coach Simon Goodwin, the Demons made light work of the battling Eagles. Melbourne took the upper hand early before blasting away with a 10-goal third quarter to claim a 21.13 (139) to 8.8 (56) win in front of a sparse crowd at Marvel Stadium. The expected win will do little to ease the pressure in a season without finals - but a loss would have been catastrophic. Gawn (21 disposals, 29 hitouts, 14 contested possessions, eight marks) set the tone around the ball as Melbourne's midfield smashed West Coast's on-ball division, which was without Harley Reid (ankle). The Demons won clearances (40-30), contested possessions (145-103) and inside-50s (58-45) with ease. Vice-captain Jack Viney (25 disposals, 13 clearances, 20 contested possessions) played his 234th AFL game, surpassing father and club great Todd Viney, and was typically brutal in the midfield. He had support from Clayton Oliver (28 touches) and Christian Salem (30 disposals), while Kysaiah Pickett's class (26 disposals) shone through. Bayley Fritsch kicked four goals while Harrison Petty (three), Harvey Langford (three), Jacob van Rooyen (two) and former Eagle Jai Culley (two) chipped in. It was just more pain for the last-placed Eagles, who have already indicated their plans to seek draft assistance from the AFL. Ryan Maric (29 disposals) was a rare shining light while Jamie Cripps kicked two goals. The Demons were dominant early but only booted three goals, before Maric got West Coast's first from back-to-back 50-metre penalties late in the first term. Melbourne led by 15 at quarter-time, then 22 at the main break. Eagle Liam Ryan had a nasty head clash with Trent Rivers and had to come off for treatment on a gash, but returned to play with a bandaged head. The Eagles traded goals with the Dees early in the third quarter, but Melbourne consistently threatened to break the game open and did so in the back half of the term. When Gawn marked and nudged the Demons out to a 50-point lead late in the third, to the delight of the home fans, the job was done. With a 63-point buffer at three-quarter time, Melbourne kicked away in the last. Next Sunday, the Demons play the finals-chasing Western Bulldogs at the MCG, while West Coast face high-flying Adelaide.
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
West Coast star Liam Ryan remarkably plays on after sickening head clash with Melbourne's Trent Rivers
West Coast's Liam Ryan has remarkably kept playing after a brutal head collision with Melbourne midfielder Trent Rivers at Marvel Stadium. Ryan went to tackle Rivers midway through the second quarter and hit the deck immediately after their heads banged together. Fans were in shock as doctors rushed out onto the ground to attend Ryan. The commentators were also concerned for the players, and suggested both players would take no further part in the game. However, Ryan and Rivers remarkably both returned after passing their Head Injury Assessments (HIA). 'What an effort to be out there ... It was a really nasty head clash,' Fox Footy commentator Kelli Underwood said in the third quarter. Ryan had blood streaming from his face in what appeared to be a cut above the eye. He returned with a bandage around his head, while Rivers was also sporting some tape around his head. Both players played out the remainder of the game, which was easily won by Melbourne. After a scrappy first half, the Demons exploded in the third quarter with 10 goals as the margin ballooned out.
