WHEN Adam Ryan played his first game in the AFL Central West competition it was to help make up the numbers, but now he's worth much more to the Bathurst Bushrangers than simply being a body on the paddock.
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He's what the Bushrangers call "a vital member of any team he plays in."
On Saturday as the men's tier one side fought off a determined Dubbo Demons at South Dubbo Oval to post a 13-11-89 to 5-11-41 win, Ryan notched up his 50th appearance for the Bushrangers.
"It snuck up on me, I've been there for a fair while now. I play for a bit of fun in winter when cricket is not on and over time it built up," Ryan said.
"Back in 2014 when I was working at Carenne, there were a couple of guys there who's families were involved with the club and they said 'Do you want to come and have a game because we are a bit short this week?'.
"I said 'No worries' and that's how it's started, every year since I've played a handful of games."
This season Ryan started out in the men's tier two competition, but his form warranted a promotion to the top side.
He is enjoying being part of a quality Bushrangers line-up which notched up its seventh consecutive win on Saturday.
"I started this year playing in thirds and a couple of games in seconds then when ones were short, I played a couple of games with them. When I first started out I was in seconds and I've played with all the guys in different sides, but to play with them together in one side is really special," he said.
"Playing in a quality side is really different and I hope I can keep doing enough each week to stay in that top side. It's awesome playing with those good players around you, it makes you lift and really concentrate on your own job."
Playing in the midfield against the Demons, Ryan and his Bushrangers looked in control at half-time as they held a 10-7-67 to 2-5-17 advantage over the hosts.
But in the third term the Demons renewed their efforts. The not only booted three majors, but they held the Bushrangers scoreless to cut the deficit to 28 points.
The Bushrangers needed to respond and they did, winning the term by 20 points. With the finals just a fortnight away, Ryan said the last quarter was a good sign.
"It was a nice tough one heading into finals. We cruised really to half-time and then in term three they really picked up a gear and we didn't go with them, we were a bit complacent and they got on a run," he said.
"They were running with the wind that quarter and we just lost our way a little bit, so it we regrouped at three-quarter-time. It's good to know that when pressured we have the ability to pick it up, get back in the match, we turned it on in that last quarter.
"We lost a couple of players who got injured throughout the match, so I suppose we were down on our reserves as well. It was just a good game to see the guys step up when they're faced with a bit of adversity and when the pressure was on."
