Richmond has selected Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Charley Ryan with pick No. 38 in Wednesday night's NAB AFLW Draft.
Ryan, Richmond's first selection in the draft, was touted as a potential top 10 draft pick prior to the Under 18 Championships in March 2022.
Playing as an inside midfielder who can also play on the wing and go forward, she put together an impressive start to the season for the Stingrays, showcasing her match-winning ability.
She was dominant in the Stingray's Round 2 victory over Gippsland Power, booting five majors and collecting 26 disposals.
Known for her strong work ethic, Stingrays coach Nick Cox lauded Ryan as "the most coachable player I have ever coached - boys or girls".
Unfortunately, Ryan tore her ACL in the U18 Championship game against Vic Metro.
Richmond AFLW Recruiting Manager Trent Moseby said the Tigers saw huge upside in Ryan.
"Standing at 173cm, Charley is athletic and powerful with a strong overhead mark and clean hands," Moseby said.
"She is a versatile player who can play numerous roles across the ground, and we look forward to developing her at Richmond.
"Charley is on track with her rehabilitation, but will be placed on our inactive list for the upcoming AFLW season to allow her to recover completely from her ACL injury ahead of the 2023 AFLW season."
Charley Ryan profile
Date of birth: 02/09/2004
Height: 173cm
Position: Wing/inside midfielder
From: Dandenong Stingrays
