West Coast’s Liam Ryan has won this year’s Mark of the Year award.
The man they call Flyin’ Ryan lived up to his reputation with three nominations across the season, two of which made the final selection for the 2019 Brownlow Medal count.
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However, it was his spectacular mark which he took over the top of 208cm tall ruckman Max Gawn during the Eagles’ 16-point win over Melbourne that would secure the gong.
Ryan was also widely praised for his courageous mark running back with the flight of the ball against Carlton in Round 20.
The 22-year-old was named the winner ahead of Isaac Heeney, who claimed last year’s Mark of the Year award.
Luke
Guest
Nah, Stewart’s stock-standard speccy over a shorter player (Liberatore) was no where near the degree of difficulty of Ryan’s screamer. When two players (Maxi & Ryan) are running towards each other, to pull off such a specular mark, and then for the lightest player on the park to send the heaviest player flying in the opposite direction and both players almost horizontal 3-5 foot in the air, Ryan’s mark was a clear winner. Even the excited Fox Footy commentator only declared Stewart’s mark the “second best” of the round.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
You have to remember that Ryan was behind his teammate who kicked the ball to him only 15 seconds earlier. He ran flat out to get there,launched and took the mark over one of the tallest players in the comp. He set it up,demanded the kick and took it. It doesn't get more difficult than that.
Squiggly
Roar Rookie
Mark of the round maybe. Stewart’s was better than this and wasn’t even in the race