Luke Ryan: Fremantle Dockers defender vows to fight back after axing, COVID

Dual All-Australian defender Luke Ryan has overcome a bout of COVID and vowed to reclaim his spot in the team.

Ryan revealed he had been set to fly east with the squad after not being picked for the round one clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, but illness intervened.

“It was a weird one. I was meant to be the travelling emergency and I rocked up to the club on the day of the flight and was pretty crook,” Ryan told 6PR.

“So I stayed here and didn’t get any better and ended up having COVID.

“So I didn’t play either game (AFL or WAFL) which was disappointing, but I am on the mend now which is good.”

Ryan said he had been “pretty flat” that he missed the chance to line up in Peel Thunder’s practice match against Perth as he eyes a return to the Dockers side.

The defender had managed an incredible 107-game streak of consecutive AFL appearances - the third-longest run in club history - before being left out of the season opener.

“That probably hurts me,” he said of not being able to play for Peel.

“I want to get back in the team. I love playing with the boys.

“There is nothing better than pulling on the jumper, especially at home in front of our fans.

“I will just have to keep trying to train well and keep putting my hand up for selection.”

The Dockers face Melbourne in a twilight Saturday fixture at Optus Stadium in round two, while Peel have a practice match against Claremont earlier that day.

Ryan, who has struggled for form and fitness coming off a shoulder reconstruction after last season, trained on Monday and Fremantle co-vice captain Caleb Serong backed the veteran of 179 games to break back into the best 23.

“He’s really clear from the coaches on what he’s working on and what he needs to do to get back in that side,” Serong said.

“Luke is my favourite teammate, or one of, to play with. He’s one of the favourite players the fans all have. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s a Docker, that’s who he is.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him get to work and get back in that side because I think we’re a better team with him in it.”

Ryan implored the Dockers to show more dare with the footy following their second-half fade-out against the Cats.

“We just got away from how we played the first half, we didn’t play in role or shape,” Ryan said.

“We got away from our game plan. We got too safe with the ball. No one wanted the ball. We had a few of those last year.

“It was a good lesson to go down to the team that played in the grand final.

“I suppose it is a blessing in disguise hopefully for the rest of the year.

“We have just got to play our way for longer.”