Ryley Sanders
Australian rules footballer
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Ryley Sanders is a professional Australian rules footballer who was selected by Western Bulldogs as the number six pick in the 2023 AFL draft.[1]
| Ryley Sanders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ryley Sanders | ||
| Nicknames | Colonel, Bernie | ||
| Born | 21 January 2005 | ||
| Original team | North Launceston(TSL) /Sandringham Dragons(Talent League)/Melbourne Grammar(APS) | ||
| Draft | No. 6, 2023 AFL draft | ||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Western Bulldogs | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2024– | Western Bulldogs | 36 (13) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Career
Sanders a Tasmanian native, played his junior football at North Launceston Bombers and school football for St Patrick’s College before playing for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League for the 2021 season. He would relocate to Victoria, boarding at Melbourne Grammar School for 2022 and 2023 and switched to the Sandringham Dragons. His efforts in the U18 league, where he didn't tally less than 25 disposals a game, led to his selection in the championship winning Allies team for the AFL Under-19 Championships. Winning the Larke Medal for best player of the tournament.
Due to his Indigenous background, he was linked with the North Melbourne Next Generation Academy (NGA), during his final year in the Under 18 competition, although due to AFL rules around NGA’s, his draft rights could only be matched by North Melbourne if he was selected after Pick 40. He would instead be drafted by the Western Bulldogs with Pick 6, after North Melbourne used Pick 2 and 4 on Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma.[2]
Sanders made his AFL debut in the Bulldog's Round 1 match against Melbourne in a 45-point loss.[3]
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[4]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2024 | Western Bulldogs | 9 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 141 | 231 | 33 | 65 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 6.4 | 10.1 | 16.5 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 1 |
| 2025 | Western Bulldogs | 9 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 124 | 266 | 390 | 63 | 62 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.9 | 12.7 | 18.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2 |
| 2026 | Western Bulldogs | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 18.0 | 21.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | TBA |
| Career | 36 | 13 | 7 | 217 | 425 | 642 | 97 | 127 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 6.0 | 11.8 | 17.8 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 3 | ||
