Denis Ryan (footballer)
Australian rules footballer
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The basics
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| Intro | Australian rules footballer | |
| Places | Australia | |
| was | Athlete Football player Australian-rules footballer | |
| Work field | Sports | |
| Gender |
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| Birth | 10 July 1916 | |
| Death | 22 April 1980 (aged 63 years) |
The details
Biography
Denis 'Dinny' Ryan (10 July 1916 – 22 April 1980) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s.
Ryan debuted in the VFL in 1935 aged just 18 and started his career at centre half forward, topping Fitzroy's goalkicking in his debut season with 46 goals. He was moved to centre half back the following season as a result of his wayward kicking for goal and won the 1936 Brownlow Medal, making it the fifth Brownlow in the previous six years to have gone to a Fitzroy player.
In 1939 after injuring his knee, Ryan joined the army and fought in World War II, getting wounded at Tobruk, Libya. He never played football again as a result.