By Tyler Lewis
Devon Meadows secured perhaps recruit of the year when it landed the services of AFL star Paddy Ryder.
NOVEMBER, 2022.
It’s far from a hit and giggle for Paddy Ryder when he suits up for Devon Meadows next season.
The ex-AFL 281-gamer means business, chasing that slippery piece of silverware Devon Meadows – and he – desperately yearn for.
Ryder, 34, has signed on at the Panthers and desires to remain in full fitness as he attempts to play each and every game of the MPNFL Division Two season.
“Paddy will play ruck and forward, he’s still fit as a fiddle – he definitely could’ve played another year of AFL footy there’s no doubt about that,” Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy said.
“He had been in the system for 17 years and the toll of AFL footy, he just wanted to finish off, so we’re getting him in really good nick.
“He’s going to be able to cover the ground no dramas, he’s still in the gym, still running, I caught up with him Wednesday night and he’s as fit as he was last year.
“It’s not going to one of those ones where we just get him and play him at full forward because he’s at the end of his career, he’s still going to have a massive impact wherever he plays.
“At this stage, we will look to play him in the ruck and forward, we’re pretty lucky in that department.”
While it may appear a signing as lucrative as Ryder’s would take a mountain of work, Hendy revealed the process was quite the contrary.
“There wasn’t too many hurdles to get over to be honest,” he explained.
“I’ve got to know Paddy through Josh (Battle) over the last couple of years and I have got a really good relationship with him.
“I caught up with him a few times throughout the year and just mentioned to him if you decide to retire from AFL football, we would be more than welcoming to have him at the club.
“Once he retired last year… I was talking to him and the money side of things doesn’t concern him, he just wanted to play with blokes he knows and feel comfortable with.
“He’s had sh*tloads of offers from other clubs, but at the end of the day it wasn’t about that, it was about him wanting to enjoy the next couple of years of his journey.
“He knew Devon Meadows had never won a flag and he really wants to win a flag, he wanted to be a part of it.”
After securing their first finals appearance in 21 years in 2022, Hendy’s Panthers are eager to hang a flag at Glover Reserve, admitting the club has reached a point of impatience.
“It is definitely on our radar that we want to get one sooner rather than later,” he said.
“We understand that just because we’ve got these big names in that it’s not just going to happen, everyone needs to buy in.
“We’re really work hard on our under-19’s system at the moment, we look like having a wave of young kids coming through next year.
“Getting Paddy and Dean Kent and these kind of blokes is only going to help that advance quicker as well.
“We are inpatient, I must admit, but anyone would be if you haven’t won a senior flag… the boys got a taste of finals footy last year, so hopefully that taste spurs them on to go bigger next year.”
The Panthers have signed up to 10 recruits for the upcoming 2023 season.
