17 Facts About Ryan Lonie

Ryan Lonie was born on 4 March 1983 and is a former Collingwood footballer in the Australian Football League.

Ryan Lonie had a raking left boot and superb pace and run on the football field that made the crowd rise to the occasion when he got the ball in space.

Ryan Lonie played for the MPNFL club Frankston Bombers, before playing in the TAC Cup for the Dandenong Stingrays.

Ryan Lonie was snapped up in the 3rd round of the 2000 AFL Draft at number 34.

Ryan Lonie made his debut for the club in round one of season 2001 against Hawthorn.

Ryan Lonie quickly established himself as a crowd favourite, with his long, daring dashes through the midfield to within goal scoring range on his raking left boot, epitomised by his two goals in the Anzac Day clash with Essendon in round five, only days after receiving an AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance against Richmond.

Ryan Lonie managed to play the first 21 matches of the season, and was only absent for the round 22 victory over the Kangaroos due to a shoulder injury.

Ryan Lonie's performances saw his name bandied around as a favourite to win the AFL Rising Star Award, though St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke proved a worthy winner.

Ryan Lonie managed 18 games, and began slowly, spending plenty of time with VFL affiliate Williamstown.

Ryan Lonie was one of the Magpies' best performers in the Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions from the wing, opposed to Nigel Lappin.

In 2003, Ryan Lonie did not miss a game, playing all 25 games of the season, which saw the Pies reach the Grand Final , though again missing out on the ultimate prize, receiving a 50-point trouncing at the hands of the Brisbane Lions.

Ryan Lonie played all games for the season, though his form remained solid if not spectacular, as the Magpies crashed back to earth.

Late in the season, Ryan Lonie was thrust into attack, where he prospered for a short while, with three goals scored against Port Adelaide under the MCG lights in another loss in round 21.

Ryan Lonie's 2005 was perhaps his most disappointing season at the club; he managed only 10 games and spent the majority of the first half of the season with Williamstown.

Ryan Lonie found his way back into the side midseason, and enjoyed a good patch in the seniors.

Ryan Lonie suffered a minor knee injury against Fremantle in round 18, but reappeared in the final match of the year against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.

Ryan Lonie survived the cull, and rebounded in impressive fashion, playing all 23 matches in 2006, though his trademark run and carry from defence had dried up somewhat, Lonie then acting as a linkman between the ball carriers.