Ryder retires

[kosifantutti]

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1203030

[bigcarl]

Inevitable I guess. His body has begun letting him down. A fantastic player over his entire career and played some great, great games for us during his three seasons with us. Hope we can keep him involved in the club in some way.

[saynta]

Well done Paddy. You will be remembered as a great of the game and a St Kilda Champion.

I am proud you decided to play with the Saints.

[Wayne42]

All the best in retirement Paddy, he's been a great player all throughout his career. It would be great if we could find another player just as good, but, unfortunately, players of Paddy's calibre
are very hard to find.

[The_Dud]

Well done Paddy

[kosifantutti]

Or as Channel Eddie tweeted it:

[MC Gusto]

Now there’s a player that deserves a send off…

Love you paddy! A true football champion and whilst I wish we had more I just loved his time with us

[Saintmike65]

Or as Channel Eddie tweeted it:

Tick this as another reason Brad Hill may not be with us next year…he will no longer be playing with his cousin Paddy.

[Bruce G McAbee]

At his best we were at our best and one of the reasons we made finals in 2020.
Good luck in your future endeavours and thank you for your service and I'll never forget that brilliant tap in forward pocket against Geelong.
We will, have to search for a ruck in the off season to help Marshall out and gives Heath time to develop.

[chook23]

Inevitable I guess. His body has begun letting him down. A fantastic player over his entire career and played some great, great games for us during his three seasons with us. Hope we can keep him involved in the club in some way.

Unlikely....family in Adelaide??


Returned there a couple of times this year

[Ghost Like]

All the very best Paddy, thank you for your efforts and skill whilst in a St Kilda jumper. Let's hope Max Heath and RoMa have valued your time at the Club and become better ruckmen.

[cwrcyn]

A big loss. Best tap ruckman I've seen in my time supporting the saints. My guess is the club nudged him ever so gently, and I don't disagree with it if that was the case. His chronic Achilles injury was always going to make next year a touch and go proposition

[Sainter_Dad]

Thank you Paddy - your enthusiasm and 'perceived' enjoyment of playing made you a fan favourite - I hated you as you destroyed us before you became one of us - I loved it when you caressed the ball to our advantage once you became a Saint

[freely]

Or as Channel Eddie tweeted it:

Whoops!

[Yorkeys]

Big shoes to fill young Heath. You can do it!

[saintsRrising]

Big shoes to fill young Heath. You can do it!

I would prefer that in 2023 that we go with just Marshall as our No 1 ruck, and then play two key forwards (King and ......maybe Hayes).

[B.M]

Played some good footy with us

I’d suggest he was a bit similar to Gardiner and King who both came to us in their twilight years and played about 50 games.

Not sure he was a StK champion but definitely had a great AFL career with his best footy being played at Port

Interesting thing about Ryder

At 197cm and 94kg
He was very undersized for a modern day ruckman, yet his strength was tapwork.

Will be hard to replace.

[skeptic]

Sad to lose him… easily the best ruck we’ve brought in in 10 years with the exception of Marshall.

Great leap, match winner, brought an element of pride, spark and passion for the club.
Rare that a player in the twilight of his career comes and both embraces and is embraced like that.

Despite only being on the list for what, 3 years… feels like a Saints champion or at least a champion for us even if his peak was at Port.

Had to lose him but congrats on a fantastic career

[mr six o'clock]

Sad to see but age has caught up with him .
Only one 30 yr old on the list next year .
i wonder if this is deliberate .

[Otiman]

A club favourite in such a short time. His performance in the bulldogs final will stick in my mind for a long long time.

[Life Long Saint]

Should have been a Saint from the start. Always felt like he belonged here.

[older saint]

One of our better recruitments.
I didn't realise how god he was by foot- probably best ruckman i have seen of recent time in regard to foot skills. They were elite.

[Banger9798]

Now there’s a player that deserves a send off…

Love you paddy! A true football champion and whilst I wish we had more I just loved his time with us

Absolutely, what a champion.
Thought he might have one more year in the tank.
He was still flying over the top at centre bounces.
Won us plenty of games and no doubt has given Roma some massive tips with ruck craft

[bangaulegend]

Thanks for your effort big fella I wish you all the best in life after football .

[Impatient Sainter]

Thanks Paddy we all enjoyed your time at the Saints!