O'CONNOR, Ryan

Ryan O'Connor was drafted by Essendon at selection number 37 in the 1991 National Draft. He was originally from Ulverstone in Tasmania.

He was a powerful, often ungainly, ruckman and forward, but he made up for his lack of polish with enthusiasm and hard work.

O'Connor was a member of the 1992 VSFL premiership side and he then made his Essendon debut against Hawthorn at Waverley Park in 1994. He represented the Allies in State of Origin level in 1995 where he was awarded the Alex Jesaulenko Medal as the best Allies player. He also won Essendon's Most Improved Player that year.

O'Connor was involved in a serious car accident in 1997 and his form became patchy thereafter. He was traded to the Sydney Swans in 1999.

From there he moved to Port Adelaide in 2001 where he won the Magarey Medal as the SANFL's best player. He returned to Melbourne to play with Coburg and won their best and fairest award in 2004. He retired midway through the 2005 season and became General Manager, a role he held until 2009. In 2010 he became the talent manager with TAC Cup side, Sandringham Dragons.