‘Hodgey was right’: one-year contract wonder eyes 250th
Murray Wenzel |
Brisbane’s longest-serving Lion might have Luke Hodge to thank as Ryan Lester approaches a remarkable 250-game milestone.
The veteran defender, who debuted a season before Dayne Zorko in 2011, will run out for game 243 when Geelong visit the Gabba in a Thursday night AFL grand final replay.
He played with Simon Black and Jonathan Brown and was coached by Michael Voss and Justin Leppitsch before Chris Fagan arrived.
The 33-year-old was dropped 17 times in his first 13 seasons and has signed eight one-year contracts, the latest due to expire at the end of this year.
He’s every chance of continuing though, with Fagan arguing Lester (20 disposals, 11 intercept possessions, four tackles) could have easily won best-on-ground honours ahead of Lachie Neale in Friday’s defeat of Carlton.
Lester is averaging career-highs in disposals (17.56) and rebound 50s (2.89) this year while averaging the most inside-50s (1.67) since 2014.
“He’s having a really good season, just wonderful,” Fagan said of Lester’s form.
“He’s so reliable, such a team-orientated man and it’s a credit to him. What’s he played, 250 games, or it’s getting close?
“It’s a great effort for someone who sort of struggled for the best part of the first part of his career and it’s becoming a bit of a joke now, that he’s had about seven one-year contracts.”
Luke Hodge’s arrival at the club in 2018 proved a key moment for Lester, according to Fagan.
“As much as anything he’s found his position,” Fagan said.
“Because of his size he played wing, mid, forward … but Luke Hodge kept saying, ‘I reckon he’s a good half-back flanker, Fages’.
“And eventually put him there and Hodgey was right and his career’s blossomed.”
Lester could resume hostilities with in-form Cats forward Jeremy Cameron, a spearhead he has kept relatively quiet in recent seasons as the clubs’ rivalry grew.
Both sides are 6-3, separated by just four percentage points in fourth and fifth on the ladder.
AAP