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After signing on until at least the end of the 2023 season with Fremantle, Luke Ryan admitted that he had received offers from AFL clubs attempting to lure him back east.
But the defender said he had many reasons to repay the faith in the team that selected him as a mature age player with pick no.66 from Coburg in the 2016 AFL National Draft.
Ryan said he hoped he would be a one-club player who can help bring Fremantle their first flag.
“That’s the aim (to be a one-club player) and become a part of the team that wins the first premiership for Fremantle. That’s my goal,” Ryan said.
“It (the contract) is a pretty long deal. I’m excited, our group is really young, the older guys just got back yesterday and there weren’t that many of them.
“It was all the young guys who’ve been here. It’s really exciting times and I’m looking forward to it.”
Ryan ranked second for intercept possessions in the AFL in 2019, and the 23-year-old wants to improve all aspects of his game this pre-season.
“(Intercept marking) is something I work on pretty closely down here with my coaches and other players,” Ryan said.
“If I can keep improving that and also working on my weaknesses, I can become a good all round player. I won’t just focus on my intercepting.”
The 2019 season ended in disappointment for Fremantle but it started with plenty of promise, especially for the backline.
Freo’s defence were ranked as the second best in the AFL prior to Alex Pearce’s season ending injury halfway through the season.
Ryan said Freo’s backs had the potential to set the standard in the league.
“We saw the numbers last year when we were the number two rated defence in the AFL,” Ryan said.
“The sky is our limit and I think if we’re fit and available, we can be the number one defence in the competition.”