Patrick Ryder Biography

Eight-and-a-half years after leaving the Bombers in the wake of the club's supplements scandal, Paddy Ryder returns to Essendon as the club's Indigenous Player Development Manager.

"I spent a big chunk of my career here and it's always been a big part of me so I always knew one day I'd end up back here in some capacity," Ryder said.

"To come back to help out our young Indigenous boys is something I'm really excited for and am really hoping to come in and make a big difference."

Paddy Ryder may not play again in 2022 due to a strained calf but says he is keen to play again in 2023.

"My best footy, when I'm fit, is still pretty good. I'll just get through the next few weeks with the calf and re-evaluate everything. I'm looking forward to hopefully playing on," Ryder said.

"I've enjoyed my time at the Saints. I've got some really close mates there and family in Bradley Hill. I'd rather not leave."

Paddy Ryder says he is keen to extend his career into an 18th season as he plays an integral role in St Kilda's finals push in 2022.

"I've just got to keep my body in good nick. Being so far into my career now, I know what I need to do to keep myself going. I've got that all down pat," Ryder told Fox Footy.

"I'll just take it year by year and at the end of the year I'll assess, but if I keep playing good footy then I'll just continue to play."

Paddy Ryder takes time off from footy to spend time with his family and elders in his community and will miss the start of the 2021 season as a result.

"Family and community are a huge part of the culture and connection that we are building at the club," Saints chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.

"When Paddy said he needed to take some time off for his health and well-being and reconnect with his family and culture, he had our full support to do so."

Jack Steele wins the Trevor Barker Award as the Saints' best and fairest for the 2020 season.

Steele's honour follows him earning maiden AFL All-Australian honours and finishing top five in the AFL Players' Association MVP and AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year.

Steele was a clear winner on 207 votes, with recruits Dan Butler (second, 126 votes), Dougal Howard (third, 122), Zak Jones (sixth, 117) and Paddy Ryder (eighth, 107) featuring prominently.

Paddy Ryder is ruled out for the rest of the 2020 finals series after scans revealed tendon damage to his hamstring sustained in the dying stages of the Saints' elimination final victory over the Bulldogs.

"It's really disappointing for Paddy, who has given everything to the club this season and played such an important role last night against the Dogs," St Kilda's chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.

"Paddy's contribution to our group has gone far beyond what we have seen on the field and we know he'll come back strongly from the injury with the same commitment he has shown throughout the year."

Thanks to a strict off-season diet regime, Paddy Ryder has slimmed to 93kg; down from the 97-100kg range he's played at over the last few years.

Ryder hopes that his trimmer frame will increase his durability and ease the load on his previously problematic Achilles tendon so he can make the twilight years of his career count.

"Getting a chance to play another couple of years, that was part of the deal. To be able to rock up here and be light and get through pre-season," Ryder said.

"In the last couple of years, I wasn't moving around as well as I can so it's a good thing to drop some weight. I'm feeling the benefits of it. I'm feeling happy, I'm feeling light running around."

Rowan Marshall says he is eager to learn as much as possible from new Saints teammate Paddy Ryder.

"I'm stoked, over the moon. He was obviously an All Australian ruckman a couple of years ago and I'm pretty new to the ruck craft," Marshall said.

"I'm really looking forward to learning from him and I think we can be a pretty good duo. He's a really superb tap ruckman (and) that's probably one weakness in my game I need to work on.

"At times against bigger ruckman I was found out a little bit in the ruck craft, but with Paddy here I will be able to improve on that and it can become one of my strengths."

St Kilda recruit Paddy Ryder is enthused about the potential of his ruck partnership with Rowan Marshall.

"I'm certainly not coming to the club to take (ruck) time away from Rowan. He's going to be an awesome ruckman, he's already shown that," Ryder said.

"The big thing about myself and Rowan playing in the same team (is that) we can both play as a key forward … It gives us good flexibility to be able to change it up. It might be a week-by-week thing …

"I'm really looking forward to it and I think it's going to be a really good partnership."

Paddy Ryder nominates St Kilda as his preferred new home, informing Port Adelaide of his intention to head to the Saints during the 2019 Trade Period.

Ryder had also met with Essendon but was left feeling unconvinced of a future at his former club.

"The thing that stuck with me was I went back into [Essendon] last week and I felt like I wanted to go through there and see what it felt like. I just didn't get a really good feeling from going back there," Ryder said.

"Walking around the place and seeing everyone and saying g'day, and I had a meeting with the coaches. But then I went down to Moorabbin and there was a sense of excitement. In the end that's what I based my decision on."

Essendon has stepped up its bid to land Port Adelaide's Paddy Ryder, meeting the former Bomber on Thursday. Senior Bombers coach John Worsfold was among the Essendon contingent to present to Ryder.

The 31-year-old is weighing a return to the club he played 170 games with before leaving at the height of the ASADA saga, or heading to St Kilda who are keen to add to their ruck stocks.

Paddy Ryder wants out of Port Adelaide, seeking a two-year deal at a rival club after receiving a guarantee of only a one-year extension at the Power.

After early interest from Greater Western Sydney, Ryder has recently fielded an offer from St Kilda, with former club Essendon also registering interest.

Ryder had fallen behind Power recruit Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams as the preferred ruckman in 2019.

GWS is reported to be chasing out-of-favour Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder to solve its ruck dilemma in 2020.

Paddy Ryder is dropped from the Power's senior side after struggling to adapt to spending time up forward while losing the No.1 ruck role to recruit Scott Lycett in 2019.

Ryder is out of contract at the end of the season, but Power coach Ken Hinkley is certain Ryder will be retained.

"I expect Paddy to be at our club next year. Paddy's a part of our furniture and he's much loved at our football club," Hinkley said.

"Just because he gets a bit older, everyone starts to jump at conclusions. This bloke's just a little bit out of form, he's not getting thrown out of our footy club. We love him too much."

Adelaide has suspended one of its members for a racist social media post directed at Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder.

"The Adelaide Football Club has been made aware a three-game member racially vilified Port Adelaide’s Paddy Ryder via social media on Friday night," the Crows said in a statement.

"This person's membership has been suspended indefinitely and all of their membership rights have been revoked. The club considers racial vilification to be abhorrent and disgusting, and racism has no place in our society."

Paddy Ryder is in some doubt for round one after injuring his cheek during a collision with teammate Robbie Gray in the fourth quarter of the Power's JLT Community Series game against North Melbourne at Alberton Oval.

Paddy Ryder is expected to a few weeks with a hip flexor injury sustained during Port Adelaide's loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Paddy Ryder will manage his Achilles injury for the rest of the season before needing a lengthy break to allow it to fully heal.

Ryder injured his left Achilles tendon in the Power's round one win against Fremantle and missed five weeks of football.

"With the Achilles, it's an ongoing thing, but something that we manage pretty closely," Ryder said.

"We've been through a little bit of trial and error along with the physios and the docs, we've got it down pat now."

Paddy Ryder suffers an Achilles injury during Port Adelaide's 50-point win over Fremantle.

"I'd say he'll miss some time, there's no doubt. It's just a matter of managing it now," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"Paddy's had a history of Achilles (injuries), he has done for probably four or five years. It is what it is."

Paddy Ryder has chased and apprehended a man who allegedly tried to break into his house.

Ryder and his brother reportedly chased three would-be burglars from his house in western Adelaide, following them in his car about 4.15am ACDT on Thursday.

The offenders crashed their car, which had allegedly been stolen earlier, in a nearby suburb.

Three men ran from the crashed car and the All Australian ruckman caught one and made a citizen's arrest. The other two men remain at large.

South Australia Police have dropped charges against Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder stemming from an incident outside an Adelaide nightclub last month.

"Ryder has acknowledged a written caution from SA Police and the matter is now at an end," a statement from Port Adelaide said.

"Ryder and the Port Adelaide Football Club now consider the matter closed and will be making no further comment."

Paddy Ryder claims the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest for the 2017 season.

Ryder finished on top with 241 votes, just seven votes ahead of Charlie Dixon (234) and Tom Jonas (203).

"It's just really humbling to be crowned the club champion," Ryder said.

"As a player, I just wanted to come out there and show my love for the game, for my teammates, just try to be as consistent as I can.

"I knew in the past I was able to play some pretty good football, but maybe consistency was my let-down, so I just wanted to play at a high level of football and keep that roll on for as long as I could."

Port Adelaide will support Paddy Ryder as he prepares to front court after being charged with assaulting a police officer and hindering police, with the ruckman declaring the story had been misreported.

"I think that it's unfortunate that the information given to the public so far by the media falls a long way short of the true picture, but there is nothing I can do about that at the moment other than to ask people not to judge me yet, and to allow me to deal with this in the right way," Ryder said in a prepared statement.

"I look forward to the opportunity to deal with these allegations in court."

Paddy Ryder has been charged with assaulting police following an incident outside an Adelaide nightclub.

"Ryder met with club officials this morning to express his disappointment and regret for involving himself in an incident which primarily concerned his brother," a Port Adelaide statement said.

Ryder was among three men who allegedly hindered police and assaulted officers as they were attempting to break up a disturbance outside a licensed premises on Hindley Street in Adelaide.

In a statement, South Australian police said a 22-year-old man from Western Australia was arrested and charged with resisting police while a 23-year-old man from Western Australia was arrested and charged with assaulting police. The police officers involved sustained only minor injuries.

Paddy Ryder reveals his doubts about ever being able to return to his best form, on the night he was awarded with his maiden Virgin Australia AFL All Australian selection.

"Early days, when you get back into it, you find that you don't have the match fitness, and you've got to try and get back up to speed with AFL football," Ryder said.

"There were times there where I thought it mightn't come back to me, but I just kept working hard at it.

"I was able to hit some form and I continued that all year."

Ken Hinkley proclaims Paddy Ryder as the competition’s best ruckman after the 29-year-old’s best-on-ground performance against West Coast at Domain Stadium with 40 hit-outs, 20 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

"I love him, I can’t help that," Hinkley said.

"He’s the best ruckman in the competition and we’re lucky to have him in the team this year.

"He’s dominating games week in, week out. He’s had a significant impact, having had a year off football."

Patrick Ryder says there is no extra motivation ahead of facing Essendon for the first time since missing 12 months with an anti-doping suspension.

"I feel pretty good emotionally, it's just another game," Ryder told Channel 7.

"It's good to see those guys back out there. Hopefully they're enjoying their footy like I am."

Patrick Ryder has revealed he considered changing the number on his guernsey for Port Adelaide's game in Shanghai, with the number four seen as unlucky in China.

Unfortunately for Ryder, the number four represents death in Chinese culture.

"It came up in conversation at home with my partner and we spoke a little about that," Ryder said.

"But I stopped that idea in its tracks because I didn't really want to carry on too much about it. Number four is my number and I want to wear that as much as I can."

Port Adelaide claim an investigation has determined that Paddy Ryder was subject to racial abuse by an Adelaide supporter.

"Spectators in the immediate vicinity challenged the Crows supporter on his remarks and upon being challenged the offender ran away before stadium security could be alerted," a statement from the club said.

"As a result, an official report with Adelaide Oval Stadium Management could not be lodged."

Chad Wingard issues a passionate call to arms over racial vilification.

Speaking after alleged racial slurs from fans aimed at both the Power's Paddy Ryder and Adelaide's Eddie Betts during Saturday's Showdown at the Adelaide Oval, Wingard said it was time for Australians to take a stand.

"As a club and as a person and as a nation, we need to stand up and say that's not acceptable, not just in football but in life in general," he said.

"To be discriminated against for something that you're born with, that people are proud to be, is pretty low. But as a club and as a community, we're hopefully going to educate people about it and how much an effect it has on people. Hopefully it's a learning curve and it doesn't happen again."

Paddy Ryder's immediate future is in the hands of an Adelaide medical report that will land with the Match Review Panel after an off-the-ball hit that floored Riley Knight.

The Port Adelaide ruckman is on shaky ground and he will need a favourable medical outcome for Knight if he is to take his place in Port Adelaide's upcoming game against Greater Western Sydney.

Patrick Ryder is disappointed he let his frustrations get the better of him in lashing out at Adelaide forward Riley Knight.

Ryder was reported after making high contact with Knight off the ball in the late stages of Port Adelaide's 17-point loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

Power forwards coach Brendon Lade said Ryder reacted to continual pressure from the Crows during the game.

"Teams probably think it wears the opposition ruckman down over a period of time and hopefully they will snap, and unfortunately Paddy did," Lade said.

"If you watch the incident where Paddy got reported, just before Riley Knight bumped him, so it's just little things like that that annoy the opposition.

"A lot of teams would do that now when the other team only has one ruckman."

Paddy Ryder accepts a one-match suspension for striking Adelaide forward Riley Knight.

The Power big man took a left arm swing at Knight in Saturday's Showdown and made contact to the Crow's jaw, sending him to the ground.

Adelaide's medical report cleared Knight of any damage resulting from the incident, playing a key role in the low impact grading.

Power coach Ken Hinkley says Paddy Ryder is excited to finally be returning to AFL football.

"I'm sure with Paddy, you will see at the start how excited he is with the way he jumps at the footy," Hinkley said.

"Having Ryder back in the side will give us a better understanding of where the ball is going."

Port adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says it would be foolish to think ruckman Paddy Ryder will be club's saviour in 2017.

"There's 22 parts to the team, and you need all 22 playing their part," Hinkley said.

"Paddy won't make the absolute difference, but hopefully he will give us an opportunity to be a bit more proactive."

The return of Paddy Ryder has given Port Adelaide a boost during its preparations for 2017 as it seeks redemption after two seasons outside of the finals.

"He is full of enthusiasm. He hasn't played [and] he's desperate to do well," Hinkley said.

"He's brought an excitement to our team that we needed because of the last couple of seasons."

Power midfielder Ollie Wines says pre-season training has been invigorated by the return of banned duo Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries.

"It's added an extra step to all of the boys," Wines said.

"Just not for the last 10 months, it's been for the last three years they have had to have that hanging over their heads.

"They've probably had their struggles throughout the year being away from the boys.

"They're really important to our setup and we're just over the moon to have them back."

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says his club was 'hoodwinked' by Essendon and is insisting financial compensation from the Bombers.

The Power will lose Angus Monfries and Patrick Ryder this year as part of the suspensions stemming from Essendon's drugs scandal and Koch said the club would consider its legal options.

"Angus Monfries was recruited before all of this happened," Koch told Chanel Seven.

"So ... we have a view that we were hoodwinked by this and we didn't know the system that was in place in Essendon.

"[With] Paddy Ryder, we went in with our eyes open, but certainly it's been suggested that we would seek compensation from Essendon.

"That is on the board agenda at the Port Adelaide Football Club."

Essendon's worst fears have been realised with the Court of Arbitration for Sport finding 34 past and present players guilty of taking banned substance Thymosin Beta-4 and suspending them for the entire 2016 season.

Twelve players still on the Bombers' list and five now at other AFL clubs who took part in Essendon's 2012 supplements program have been hit with two-year bans beginning on March 31 last year.

However, most of the suspensions will come to an end on November 13 this year, taking into account provisional suspensions already served.

Bombers skipper Jobe Watson, vice-captain Dyson Heppell, reigning club champion Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking, Travis Colyer, Michael Hibberd, Ben Howlett, David Myers, Brent Stanton and Tayte Pears will all miss the Bombers' 2016 campaign.

The guilty decision impacts four other AFL clubs with former Essendon players on their lists, with Jake Carlisle (St Kilda), Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs), Jake Melksham (Melbourne), Angus Monfries and Patrick Ryder (Port Adelaide) to be sidelined for the season.

Former Essendon players Mark McVeigh and Brent Prismall are set to be suspended from their respective roles at Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs until November 13 as support staff are banned from any WADA-complaint sports under the sanctions.

McVeigh is an assistant coach at the Giants, while Prismall is a player wellbeing and welfare manager with the Bulldogs.

Essendon champion and former club coach James Hird slammed the guilty verdict and suspensions.

"I am shocked by this decision," Hird said in a statement.

"I firmly believe the players do not deserve this finding.

"They do not deserve to face a twelve-month suspension from the sport. This is a miscarriage of justice for 34 young men."

Paddy Ryder kicks four goals, including three in the final quarter, to lift the Power to a 13-point win against his former side, Essendon.

Bombers coach James Hird, however, labeled Ryder's performance as 'lucky'.

"I thought Ryder was held for three quarters; I thought he was lucky," Hird said after the game.

"He had four possessions at three-quarter time. So I didn't think (his impact was noteworthy) - no."

Patrick Ryder admits to feeling nervous as he prepares to play against his former club, Essendon, this week.

"I am a little bit [more nervous]; obviously it's a bit tough, but I'll have a chat with Schulzy and boys like that who have come from other clubs and get some tips off them on how to approach it," Ryder said.

"I spent a lot of years there so I've got some mates and we keep in touch … [there might be] a bit of friendly banter.

"I've never had any issues with any of my teammates over the journey. I wouldn't have thought anything would be too sinister."

Whilst Paddy Ryder has not quite produced the results expected at Port Adelaide, Power coach Ken Hinkley believes the recruitment of the former Bomber will eventually pay dividends for the club.

"Absolutely it's going to work – give us some time," Hinkley said.

"You have to talk about what you know and what you've been through, and in my case I've been through the Geelong system, I've been through the Brad Ottens trade.

"First year it wasn't as great as it looked on paper, (but it) turned out pretty good."

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says Paddy Ryder will only get better after the former Essendon ruckman tallied 12 possessions, five marks and 20 hitouts in his debut for the Power.

"He hasn't had the ideal preparation, Paddy, unfortunately," Hinkley said.

"But I thought he was pretty solid for us. I thought even late in the game he was getting over the top of them.

"We know there is some significant upside for us with Paddy and then when we get 'Lobes' into the side that will certainly help us."

On the eve of Port Adelaide's 2015 season opener against Fremantle, Power coach Ken Hinkley refers to new recruit Paddy Ryder as his 'new toy'.

"Have you ever got a new toy and you're not quite sure [how to play with it]?" Hinkley asked.

"Paddy's not quite sure, the team's not quite sure, but the more chances we get to play with it the more informed we'll be about what we can actually do with it.

"That's exciting; Paddy will grow in our team and our team will grow with Paddy as the season unfolds."

Angus Monfries and Paddy Ryder will be eligible to feature in the opening round for Port Adelaide after the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal cleared 34 of Essendon's past and present players of taking a banned substance.

"Clearly we are pleased for Angus and Paddy," Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said.

"They have been through so much and we are very proud as to how they've handled themselves during this difficult time."

Jarrad Redden makes his first return to football via the NAB Challenge since round 10, 2013.

Redden returned to the field in Albury, managing 21 hitouts in an undermanned Power outfit that hung in against nearly a full-strength Richmond to go down by 66 points.

Port Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Nicks says a fit Redden will provide some much needed relief in the ruck for Matthew Lobbe with doubt over when Paddy Ryder will be able to play.

"'Lobbes' has carried that rucking role all last year and it's quite a toll on his body," Nicks said.

"If we can get [Redden] up and going, he's a real key ruckman, he's a big body, a slightly different style to 'Lobbes' so it gives us that bit of flexibility.

"He's been working really hard, he's had two months where we've put him under pressure and we've asked him to respond and he has, so that's why he was here today."

Port Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Nicks says boom recruit Paddy Ryder has been invaluable as a new leader around the club.

"His character is just outstanding," Nicks said of Ryder.

"He's one of those guys who puts other people first, it's all about team.

"With Paddy, he's all about 'I want to learn, I want to learn, I want to get better'.

"He's just so easy to coach. He's already jumped onto that leadership side.

"[He's quickly learnt how we play and] he's now working with younger guys as well, so it's just been a massive addition for us."

Port Adelaide has confirmed it made the decision to pull star ruckman Patrick Ryder out of Friday night's Indigenous All Stars clash against West Coast.

The Power big man and teammate Angus Monfries will not take part in any AFL-sanctioned match, including the NAB Challenge until the League's Anti-Doping tribunal has made a determination on any potential suspensions for the 34 past and present players involved in the Bombers' 2012 supplements regime.

Ryder was named in the All Stars squad for Friday night's match at Medibank Stadium in Perth, but was notably absent from the final team.

Hamish Hartlett says the Power's ruck combination of Matthew Lobbe and Paddy Ryder can be the AFL's best.

"[Paddy's] already done some pretty exciting things – his athleticism around the ground is amazing and to see him and Matthew Lobbe compete and then come together on the same team…has been really exciting to watch," Hartlett said.

"They've got the work ethic to become [the best] and I reckon they'll really feed off each other."

Port Adelaide's star recruit Patrick Ryder has been honoured with one of the club's most iconic numbers.

Ryder will wear No.4 - the number made famous by inaugural captain Gavin Wanganeen.

"Gavin was a great player and a role model for many Aboriginal players in the game today - we all grew up watching him play," Ryder said.

"To wear the No.4 here with the Power is really special and it was great that Gav was happy for me to wear it."

Paddy Ryder says his switch to Port Adelaide has reignited his love for footy.

At his first media conference as a Power player, Ryder said his passion for the game had been extinguished at Essendon, where he had been worn down by the ongoing supplements drama.

"With everything that went on, you sort of want to stay away from the club instead of going there, so it does take the enjoyment out of it," Ryder said.

"As soon as the news came to me that the trade got done I was filled with happiness. I just wanted to get down here straight away and get involved as much as I can.

"Ever since the trade got done the time that I've enjoyed with my family has been immense … so much joy and a lot of good times."

Paddy Ryder has been traded from Essendon to Port Adelaide just hours before the 2014 NAB AFL Trade Period deadline.

Port Adelaide handed over picks 17 and 37 to acquire the 26-year-old ruckman, who wanted to leave the club because of the emotional impact of the supplements scandal that has engulfed the Bombers since the start of 2013.

Pick 37 will now be on-traded to the Western Bulldogs in return for Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney.

"We would have liked a little bit more, but the way it was all set up, Paddy wanted to get to Port Adelaide and that was the best deal we could get for him," Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"(Greater Western Sydney) came in late and showed a lot of interest, but he had already made up his mind he was only going in one direction and that was to Port Adelaide."

Paddy Ryder says he feared for the safety of his unborn son at the height of the club's supplements saga.

During his interview with ASADA last year, Ryder was left paralysed by concern after being told the program could potentially cause serious complications for his soon-to-be-born son, Harlan.

Ryder told the Herald Sun he and his partner Jess McDonald felt "badly" let down by the club during the 20-month ordeal.

"I can't really put into words the amount of worrying and stress that we were both under, hoping that our son, Harlan, was going to be OK," Ryder said.

"It was just a lot of worrying, a lot of time where it just consumed you during the day…we just tried to get ourselves through this time as best we could.

"To this day Jess still worries.

"We've had discussions with (Essendon doctor) Doc Reid. He says everything is clear. But going through all that uncertainty, it doesn't just clear up with someone saying, 'It's all good now'.

"What has panned out over a long period of time is that we felt badly let down by the club and lost trust and faith."

The AFL has blocked a left-field trade proposal involving Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder's move to Port Adelaide as a free agent, leaving the Bombers and Power to restart negotiations.

The two clubs approached the AFL to investigate whether Ryder would become a free agent if he and Essendon mutually voided his existing contract, which runs until the end of 2016.

As Port continues to struggle to put together a deal to satisfy the Bombers to bring Paddy Ryder to the Power, the media reports that the two clubs have approached the AFL to investigate whether Ryder would become a free agent if he and Essendon mutually voided his existing contract that runs until the end of 2016.

Essendon is prepared to play hard ball with Paddy Ryder and will hold the wantaway ruckman to his contract if a suitable trade can't be arranged, coach James Hird says.

"If a player wants to leave then we'll look at that opportunity for them to leave, but it would have to be a good deal for us otherwise Paddy will stay an Essendon player," Hird said.

"The supporters love Paddy Ryder and I think the club generally has a strong affection towards Paddy and we think we've got some really good football out of him the last few years."

Essendon demand a quality player from Port Adelaide in exchange for Paddy Ryder.

"He's a quality player, he's at the peak of his powers as an AFL ruckman, so we want what's fair," Bombers recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"We want apples for apples, not apples for a bag of peanuts, basically. They know what we're after … the ball is back in their court."

Essendon rejects Port Adelaide's opening offer of their No.16 first-round draft selection in exchange for disgruntled ruckman Paddy Ryder.

"There's every chance it will be drawn out. He's obviously contracted and we're very respectful and mindful of that being the case," Power list manager Jason Cripps said.

"We've had some discussions with Essendon. We'll continue to do so to hopefully broker a deal that's fair for all parties."

Paddy Ryder's manager Paul Connors says his client will join Port Adelaide after deciding to part ways with Essendon.

"He's locked-in [with the Power]. I think they'll do a really good trade for him," Connors said.

"This is a purely welfare-driven decision.

"You can't tell someone how to feel. He feels like he wants to play his footy elsewhere."

Power premiership player Gavin Wanganeen has given Patrick Ryder a call to convince him to strongly consider Port Adelaide as his next club if his heart is no longer at Essendon.

"I wanted him to know how Port Adelaide is placed - and how he would be a valuable player to the Power. Also, he should know how great the indigenous culture is at Port Adelaide," Wanganeen said.

"My message was the Port Adelaide Football Club is going places. If Paddy values a premiership, Port Adelaide is the club to be at.

"But my first advice to Paddy was not to walk away from Essendon unless he was 100 per cent sure there is no turning back."

Power coach Ken Hinkley confirms that Port Adelaide would part with its first-round draft pick for outgoing Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder.

"Paddy's got a lot of decisions to make, we're one of his options – there's no doubt about that," Hinkley said.

"I'll talk to Paddy [on Thursday], I'll just confirm that, if for you to play football next year it's important that you be part of a club and a great club culture and what you want to achieve is team success, Port Adelaide can offer you that opportunity."

After walking out on Essendon, Patrick Ryder has wasted no time in engaging in talks with Greater Western Sydney while also being linked to Port Adelaide and Brisbane.

Patrick Ryder quits Essendon and requests a trade to a new club.

Travis Boak sayd he wants to see Paddy Ryder in Port Adelaide colours in 2015.

"I was lucky enough to play over in Ireland in [All Australian] under-17s with him and he's a fantastic person and certainly a fantastic player," Boak said.

"It'd certainly add a fair bit to our team … just the type of player he is. I think he could add a lot all over the ground for us."

The Brisbane Lions have confirmed speaking to Paddy Ryder's manager and are well and truly in the hunt for the Essendon ruckman's services.

"Paul Connors has spoken to us and has said Paddy Ryder isn't completely happy at Essendon," Brisbane general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.

"Obviously Paddy's contracted though and my understanding is Paddy and Essendon will sit down this week or next and work through his future at Essendon.

"Our understanding is if they can't resolve some of the concerns they have that he may look to move, and our understanding is Brisbane may be his preferred club if that is the case."

Essendon coach Mark Thompson says speculation that Paddy Ryder may want to leave Essendon at the end of the season won't distract him ahead of the club's elimination final against North Melbourne.

"We haven't talked about it in team meetings, I haven't really spoken about it at all, to be honest," Thompson said.

"I don't think it'll detract from his performance on Saturday. I think he's going to give everything to the team this year, and whatever happens next year, that's 'Hirdy's' (returning coach James Hird) problem."

Patrick Ryder's management is reportedly exploring a clause in his contract that could allow the ruckman to leave Essendon at the end of the season as a delisted free agent.

The key Bomber, who signed a four-year contract in 2012, could leave the club on the grounds it seriously breached its duty of care to him through the supplements scandal of 2011-12.

Essendon would receive no compensation under the new rule, which was pushed by the AFLPA and introduced as a result of the club's breaches.

Patrick Ryder admits he feels weighed down by the pressure of representing the indigenous community, in the lead-up to Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash against Richmond.

"We're not only representing the club, we're representing every Aboriginal person, those who can't be out there … and we're privileged enough to play," Ryder said.

"I feel a bit of pressure having all that weight on my shoulders - the weight of the nation of us indigenous people. It's something that once I get out on the field it turns into adrenaline.

"We want to go out there, do our best and make those people proud."

Paddy Ryder will miss a week of football due to a rolled ankle but hopes to be back soon after.

"I'm most likely to miss this week. It's still pretty sore at the moment," Ryder said.

"Hopefully I'll get everything right this week and be ready to tackle Freo [in round four]."

"I rolled over pretty badly on it and it's still pretty sore ... once I get up and running everything should be fine from there."

Essendon coach James Hird defends his decision to leave star ruckman Paddy Ryder out of the side defeated by the Cats.

"The unfortunate thing with Paddy was that he was playing good football but was suspended for three weeks," Hird said.

"Scott Gumbleton was playing really well and you can't - in this type of football, particularly at Etihad - go in with too many talls.

"We really went with Gumbleton over Ryder. I think it was a good call to keep playing Scotty.

After copping a three-week suspension for a bump, Paddy Ryder says he may have to modify his approach to contests.

"Going forward I'll certainly err on the side of caution when I go into contests," Ryder said.

"I certainly don't want to be missing weeks [with suspension]. I'll probably still go for bumps, it's not going to stop me from doing that. But I'll certainly be a lot more careful about it."

Bombers Paddy Ryder and Nick Kommer accept bans for rough conduct against Fremantle and will miss three and two matches respectively.

Ryder's bump, in particular, resulted in Docker Luke McPharlin being concussed and subbed out of the match.

Paddy Ryder says he is not aware of any wrongdoing by the club with Essendon being investigated for providing illegal supplements to their players.

"I had family and friends who were ringing me and saying, 'I hope you're not involved in that stuff that's going on'," Ryder said.

"At the end of the day you know you've done nothing wrong. It was hardest at first when you wanted to know answers, but then you realised you're not going to get answers."

Essendon coach James Hird says Paddy Ryder's next challenge is to find some consistency in his performances.

"Paddy has set a standard. Last year he set a standard and regressed occasionally," Hird said.

"If he sets that standard he needs to keep that standard."

Essendon's Patrick Ryder says a brutal self-assessment is behind his resurgence in form.

"I just had a deep look at myself and started on the training track to really train as hard as I can and get the advice from the coaches to get back to playing well," Ryder said.

"I just took it all back to basics and I've turned my form around a bit."

Essendon coach James Hird has defended Patrick Ryder after former Swans coach Paul Roos labelled the Bomber ruckman as "lazy".

"Paddy does need to work hard at certain times and get involved defensively a bit more, but I definitely wouldn't call him lazy," Hird said.

"The thing with Paddy is, like a lot of guys with huge talent, they do show so much and at times people expect a lot of them."

Essendon will not challenge suspensions for Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Ryder and Samuel Lonergan.

"We put the facts - including advice from our QC - in front of Matthew and on balance he did not wish to appeal and we respect that decision," general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd is offered a four week suspension for his hit on Hawthorn's Brad Sewell.

Bombers Samuel Lonergan and Paddy Ryder have also been offered one-week each for striking after a melee ensued in the match following Lloyd's bump.

Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder says he is desperate to play finals football this year after being urged on by captain Matthew Lloyd.

The Bombers will secure eigth spot if they beat Hawthorn in round 22.

"We haven't played finals for a while, and Lloydy's been harping on it at training, and we just want to play finals to reward those guys, and reward ourselves with a win and play in a few finals," he said

Young Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder will be out of action for three weeks after scans on his knee revealed ligament damage.

"There was some concern that Paddy had sustained ligament damage so we are happy to learn his injury isn't anything more serious," Bombers' football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"Unfortunately he will miss at least a couple of weeks as the muscle behind his knee heals which is obviously a blow for the side."

Essendon has been bolstered by signing boom ruckman Paddy Ryder for a further three years after Ryder decided against returning home to Perth.

"I have a lot of friends here and Essendon is the best place for me to be," he said.

"My family is sad but they understand this is best place for me."

Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder wins his challenge at the AFL tribunal but Port's Toby Thurstans is found guilty of making contact with an umpire.

Steven King is looking at a month on the sidelines after being charged with rough conduct, while Paddy Ryder has also been suspended.

King was involved in an off the ball incident on Saturday which left Kangaroo Sam Power unconscious.

Ryder was suspended for a week for rough conduct against young Crow Patrick Dangerfield.

Essendon has been left with just one geniune ruckman due to the injuries to Tom Bellchambers and Jason Laycock.

Laycock has battled navicular problems since late last year but made his comeback with VFL affiliate the Bendigo Bombers the weekend before last.

"He's training and was playing with discomfort," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"It's not ideal. He hasn't been able to get a run at it, which is frustrating because he would have been perfect to come in."

Youngster Patrick Ryder will be expected to carry Essendon's rucks in their absence.

"We're going to have to be a bit creative and share the workload. It's probably far to say Paddy is going to have to do the majority of the work, but we're going to have to find him support," Knights said.

"We'll have a chat about that this afternoon and try to come up with a plan that will give Paddy enough support and do our best to nullify Adelaide's strengths as well."