It has taken three states, three clubs and 15 seasons for Paddy Ryder, but he is on track to play his 250th game when St Kilda plays Gold Coast tonight.
Originally from East Fremantle, Ryder was one of the most highly-regarded key-position prospects in the 2005 National Draft and ended being selected by Essendon with the seventh pick.
He gave the Bombers tremendous service over 170 games in nine seasons. He was popular with supporters and was a dream for the coaches with his ability to swing through the forward line while also chalking up significant minutes in the ruck.
But the supplements scandal that rocked the club took its toll on Ryder, arguably more than most, and he fell out of love with Essendon.
Port Adelaide was at the front of the queue to secure his services and he crossed there in 2015 and played 73 games in five years.
He didn’t play in 2016, serving a 12-month suspension as part of the fallout from the events at the Bombers, but his 2017 season was outstanding and he ended up the All-Australian ruckman and Port Adelaide’s best and fairest.
He played 17 games for the Power last season, but his future at Alberton appeared more cloudy the longer the season went, with Scott Lycett and Todd Marshall firming as the club’s preferred ruck tandem and Peter Ladhams waiting in the wings.
Essendon was keen to get him back this year, but he opted to join the Saints. There was no prospect of regular senior football at Moorabbin either, with Rowan Marshall’s rapid emergence as one of the best ruckmen in the AFL.
But St Kilda is working out how to best utilise Ryder and Marshall together and in round eight against Port Adelaide, Ryder enjoyed his best game with the Saints.
He had 29 hit-outs and kicked two goals and, with Marshall, took Ladhams – and Port – to the cleaners.
It is doubtful Ryder will play every game from here. He is likely to miss a game or two over the next few weeks during this fixture crush.
But with the Saints charging at speed towards the finals, he appears to have selected the right club to close out his fine career.