Dave Ryan (Australian footballer)


David James Ryan was an Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League.
Originally from Yarrawonga, Ryan arrived at Collingwood in 1907 after failing to make an impact in his season with Geelong. At his new club, Ryan participated in the finals in each of his first five seasons and was a ruckman in the 1910 premiership team. He also played in Collingwood's losing Grand Final the following season, again as a follower. Used at times up forward, he retired at the end of the 1912 season but continued playing briefly in the VFA at Prahran.
He was the brother of another Collingwood player Michael Ryan and the uncle of Joe Ryan, who played for and coached Footscray. Outside of football he was a policeman for about 20 years until he moved to Sydney around 1930 where he worked as a store detective. He died in Sydney in February 1957.