Patrick Ryder

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**Patrick Ryder**
Personal information

Birth	March 3, 1988 (1988-03-03) (age 20),
Recruited from	East Fremantle
Height and weight	197cm / 88kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 1, April 1, 2006, Essendon vs. Sydney, at Telstra Dome
Team(s)	Essendon (2006- ) 14 games, 3 goals
¹ Statistics to end of R5, 2007 season
Career highlights

Patrick "Paddy" Ryder (born March 3, 1988) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

[edit] Early career

Ryder was part of the AFL U18 All-Australian team, and he represented Australia in the U18 International Rules over in Ireland. He had a successful career in the WAFL as a young player, playing for the East Fremantle. Ryder is one of the top young prospects going around the AFL at the moment. He has 'freak' speed, agility and leap for someone his size and it is these attributes that has him compared to retired Indigenous Australian rules football star Graham "Polly" Farmer.

[edit] Essendon career

Essendon secured Ryder with its first selection in the 2005 AFL Draft, which was the seventh pick in the League.

Ryder debuted in Round 1, 2006 and plays mostly at full back, centre half back and in the ruck. In his 10th AFL match, Ryder was awarded a NAB Rising Star nomination for his efforts in Round 1, 2007.