Ryan sets out on a goal-scoring spree

By Ed Merrison
THE glory of scoring doesn’t diminish no matter how often you put the ball between the posts.
Such are the sentiments of Emerald Football Club Under 16 record-breaker Ryan Castricum.
Club historians say St Joseph’s College student Ryan is the first Under 16 player to pass 100 goals in a season, having bagged a swag of 107. Ryan started the season at centre half forward and set himself a target of 50 goals.
“I was pretty happy when I passed that half way through the season, and then played the last three or four games at full forward,” he said.
Ryan said it had been a good season all round for the team, despite coming runner up in the grand final.
He has been playing at the club since joining the Under 10 side in 1999, and his ambition is to one day play for a good first division team. His latest exploits leave him well placed to realise that dream, and Ryan shows no sign of tiring of success.
“It’s always the same feeling when you kick a goal, and a great feeling when you take a mark in front of goal, especially when the game’s close,” he said.