Jake Ryan (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jacob 'Jake' Ryan is a former Australian Rules Football player
, and a 2002 Bali bombing
survivor. He currently works for Fairfax Media
and is a manager for their Domain section website.
, before he moved to Melbourne to play in the VFL
for Sandringham in 2000. There he played in a premiership side, in his debut season, and following the 2001 season, the young rover entered the AFL draft, and was taken in the Rookie draft by Geelong
.
Ryan played one preseason match, then called the Wizard Cup
, against Richmond, before returning to play in the VFL, as he was ineligible to play senior matches whilst on the rookie list. Ryan survived just one season on the list, before being cut by the squad, and returned to the Queensland AFL to play for Southport again the following year.
Later in 2002, Ryan's life was changed when he was inside the Sari Club at the time of the 2002 Bali bombings. The club was very close to the car bomb that went off on the streets, and Ryan was knocked down during the blasts. He suffered severe burns to his foot, one of his heels burnt off, and the blasts damaged his abdominal, where some shrapnel tore his stomach.
Ryan survived the attack, as did his brother who was with him at the time of the attack, and despite refusing treatment at a local Army hospital, the injured footballer managed to get to a private hospital via an ambulance, and was treated there before being transported back to Australia, where he received further treatment, and was discharged from hospital.
Following the bombings, Ryan was asked to appear in the trial against the bombers, and following a day in court, he and brother Mitchell confronted Imam Samudra, one of the terrorists behind the bombings, as Samudra began his daily leave of the courthouse, where he would raise his arms scream at locals who came to watch him, including survivors and families of lost ones, screaming out 'Allahu Akbar (God is great)' before Ryan rushed forth to within a few metres of the terrorist, before screaming at him, telling him he was a 'f---ing dog' and he was 'going to die'. Ryan was separated by just a waist high fence, and was about to jump the fence when he was restrained.
The outburst was applauded by many, Ryan later commenting that whilst the terrorist had shown no remorse over his actions, happily watching the fear and sadness of his victims and their families as he screamed at them, when Ryan had retaliated, he had for the first time seen fear in Samudra's eyes.
Following the bombings and outburst, his demand from the media led to him being offered a job on a local radio station, and in turn Ryan wrote a column in The Australian
newspaper, he then went onto work for Fairfax Media
in their domain section.
In March of 2011 Jake suffered a minor health scare so he decided to move back to the Gold Coast to be with his family. He planned to wed in Sept 2011 and move to the tweed coast, however these plans have since changed and Jake is still located on the gold coast and looking forward to the 2012 football season where he will play for his childhood team the Surfers Paradise Demons.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, and a 2002 Bali bombing
2002 Bali bombing
The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people,...
survivor. He currently works for Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
and is a manager for their Domain section website.
Biography
Ryan grew up in the Gold Coast, playing for Southport in the AFL QueenslandAFL Queensland
AFL Queensland is the governing body of Australian rules football in Queensland. It was formed in 2000 after the previous governing body for the sport in Queensland, the Queensland Australian Football League , went into voluntary liquidation...
, before he moved to Melbourne to play in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
for Sandringham in 2000. There he played in a premiership side, in his debut season, and following the 2001 season, the young rover entered the AFL draft, and was taken in the Rookie draft by Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
.
Ryan played one preseason match, then called the Wizard Cup
Australian Football League pre-season competition
The Australian Football League pre-season competition, which is known at present as the NAB Cup, is a competition held before the beginning of the Australian Football League premiership season...
, against Richmond, before returning to play in the VFL, as he was ineligible to play senior matches whilst on the rookie list. Ryan survived just one season on the list, before being cut by the squad, and returned to the Queensland AFL to play for Southport again the following year.
Later in 2002, Ryan's life was changed when he was inside the Sari Club at the time of the 2002 Bali bombings. The club was very close to the car bomb that went off on the streets, and Ryan was knocked down during the blasts. He suffered severe burns to his foot, one of his heels burnt off, and the blasts damaged his abdominal, where some shrapnel tore his stomach.
Ryan survived the attack, as did his brother who was with him at the time of the attack, and despite refusing treatment at a local Army hospital, the injured footballer managed to get to a private hospital via an ambulance, and was treated there before being transported back to Australia, where he received further treatment, and was discharged from hospital.
Following the bombings, Ryan was asked to appear in the trial against the bombers, and following a day in court, he and brother Mitchell confronted Imam Samudra, one of the terrorists behind the bombings, as Samudra began his daily leave of the courthouse, where he would raise his arms scream at locals who came to watch him, including survivors and families of lost ones, screaming out 'Allahu Akbar (God is great)' before Ryan rushed forth to within a few metres of the terrorist, before screaming at him, telling him he was a 'f---ing dog' and he was 'going to die'. Ryan was separated by just a waist high fence, and was about to jump the fence when he was restrained.
The outburst was applauded by many, Ryan later commenting that whilst the terrorist had shown no remorse over his actions, happily watching the fear and sadness of his victims and their families as he screamed at them, when Ryan had retaliated, he had for the first time seen fear in Samudra's eyes.
Following the bombings and outburst, his demand from the media led to him being offered a job on a local radio station, and in turn Ryan wrote a column in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper, he then went onto work for Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
in their domain section.
In March of 2011 Jake suffered a minor health scare so he decided to move back to the Gold Coast to be with his family. He planned to wed in Sept 2011 and move to the tweed coast, however these plans have since changed and Jake is still located on the gold coast and looking forward to the 2012 football season where he will play for his childhood team the Surfers Paradise Demons.