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- Nyhuis rules on debut with four
Freo's victory against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday was more than just your run-of-the-mill thriller.
It was the fifth Freo game decided by under a goal in 2017 (we've won four of those for anyone counting).
It was also the debut of Ryan Nyhuis - a 20-year-old defender from the Northern Territory.
Twice named as an emergency since his elevation form the rookie list in June, Nyhuis earned his spot in the side after David Mundy was withdrawn with illness - becomming the 200th player to represent Fremantle.
Nyhuis' debut was covered extensively on Twitter, let's see how it unfolded.
Final teams #AFLNorthFreo:@freodockers: David Mundy (ill) replaced by Ryan Nyhuis.@NMFCOfficial: No late changes.
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
Ryan Nyhuis to become 200th player to represent Freo after late change for #AFLNorthFreo.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 9, 2017
>> https://t.co/ykR3Mgza7q #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/9cHsrAa2z4
The big question on fans' lips was - how do we say his name?
Think of Flo-Rida. 'My-House'
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 9, 2017
The game got underway and @plugga73 got on the Flo-Rida bandwagon early when Nyhuis goaled with his first kick in footy.
Never played forward...RL for some reason plays him forward. Kicks a goal in first few mins... pic.twitter.com/mZ5vPQyXpP
— Plugga (@Plugga73) July 9, 2017
A goal within five minutes! A great start to Ryan Nyhuis' debut. #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/g00MjyJxW8
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
Did we mention Nyhuis was a defender?
Nyhuis' first goal in professional footy. Hasn't split the sticks in 25 WAFL games. Love it. #AFLNorthFreo
— Rory Coleman-Heard (@rcolemanheard) July 9, 2017
Nyhuis up forward. Didn't see that one coming #AFLNorthFreo
— Dale Miller (@miller_dj) July 9, 2017
Then Nyhuis kicked his second! It couldn't possibly get any better could it?
Everything is coming up Nyhuis! #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/cJiDB1F1HD
— Brett Thomas (@Sports_Brett) July 9, 2017
Weller ➡ Tucker ➡ Nyhuis ➡ GOAL! #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/4EoplmsZRf
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 9, 2017
It did when Nyhuis kicked his third while on the run from outside 50...
EXCUSE ME!
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 9, 2017
Nyhuis with his third goal. Unbelievable!
⚓️ 79 ⚪️ 80#AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/wPBmU7zx7B
Surely not?! Ryan Nyhuis with a third goal on debut - and this is the best of the lot! #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/D3AlDsn6a3
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
RYAN NYHUIS!!! pic.twitter.com/tbnjJOrNRt
— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) July 9, 2017
With that goal, Nyhuis equalled a Freo record of most goals on debut, joining Ryan Crowley, Paul Medhurst and Leigh Wardell-Johnson.
But he wasn't done...with the game on the line, Nyhuis came up clutch late in the final term to kick the match-winning goal.
NYHUIS KICKS HIS FOURTH! #AFLNorthFreo
— AFL (@AFL) July 9, 2017
Unreal debut, Fremantle have found two players in two weeks. First Darcy, now Nyhuis https://t.co/SbBeNRH4sv
— Nathan Lay (@nathanjlay) July 9, 2017
Freo fans must be loving Ryan Nyhuis. #AFLNorthFreo
— ABC Sport AFL (@ABCAFL) July 9, 2017
Stan Alves "These are what you dream of in the backyard"
Brent Harvey "Great debut."
It takes a record-breaking performance to get Freo Pope to change his name on Twitter.
Nyhuis is the first Freo player to kick 4 on debut. Ever. #foreverFreo#AFLNorthFreo
— Pope Nyhuis ⚓ (@FreoPope) July 9, 2017
Goals on AFL debut for @freodockers
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) July 9, 2017
0 - 96 players
1 - 38 players
2 - 9 players
3 - 3 players
4 - RYAN NYHUIS#AFLNorthFreo
Nyhuis earned some love from a fellow Territorian in the Gold Coast's Steven May.
Ryan Nyhuis you star ⭐️ #territoryproud #AFLRoosDockers
— Steven May (@stevemay_92) July 9, 2017
Then - as is expected when a defender kicks four on debut - Nyhuis started trending.
Footy world is currently googling Ryan Nyhuis
— adrian barich (@adrianbarich) July 9, 2017
fairly safe to predict that this is the first time ever that "Nyhuis" has trended. #foreverFreo pic.twitter.com/hOyEzZe7OA
— Pope Nyhuis ⚓ (@FreoPope) July 9, 2017
'nyhuis' is now trending in #Perthhttps://t.co/xIgJnPOjib pic.twitter.com/MvLP3c9xES
— Trendsmap Perth (@TrendsPerth) July 9, 2017
The performance inspired teammate Matt Uegergang to open up photoshop (or MS Paint?) on his laptop.
Welcome to Nyhuis!! Great debut brother! pic.twitter.com/CeYWkJ3fKP
— Matthew Uebergang (@mattuebergang) July 9, 2017
AFLNT captured this heartwarming moment with Nyhuis' family in the stands.
Feel the emotion! A very proud family watching Ryan Nyhuis match winning goal on debut for the @freodockers @NTThunderFC #territorypride pic.twitter.com/lpOntwRTj7
— AFLNT (@AFLNT) July 9, 2017
According to one fan, Ryan compares favourably to another favourite house at Freo.
Ryan Nyhuis > Clive Waterhouse? #AFLNorthFreo pic.twitter.com/378dWqrwzz
— Daniel Davini (@davvers605) July 9, 2017
We wrap up with a non-tweet in this grab from Tommy Sheridan's insta story where the players serenaded the debutant on the way to the airport.
