If there was one positive to come out of the Bombers' loss to Collingwood on Sunday it was the performance of Patrick Ryder on Magpies forward Travis Cloke.
At three-quarter time Cloke, who averages eight marks a game, had taken just one mark and was yet to impact the scoreboard.
With the sting gone out of the game in the final term, Cloke kicked three goals, but it didn't detract from what was a superb effort from the versatile Ryder.
""I knew how big the job was for the team so I wanted to really try my hardest to keep him goalless,"" Ryder said.
""But late in the game he ended up getting in a few good spots and got on the end of a few.""
Despite Cloke's incredible work rate and gut running, Ryder was able to use his athleticism to match the Pies' leading goalkicker on the lead.
""I know he's a big, strong lad so I just wanted to stay off him and use my athleticism to get in late, put a spoil on [the ball] and bring it to ground for the crumbers,"" Ryder said.
""He just never stops running. I suppose when the ball is coming in too easily it's harder to man up on him because he's so dangerous.""
At three-quarter time Cloke, who averages eight marks a game, had taken just one mark and was yet to impact the scoreboard.
With the sting gone out of the game in the final term, Cloke kicked three goals, but it didn't detract from what was a superb effort from the versatile Ryder.
""I knew how big the job was for the team so I wanted to really try my hardest to keep him goalless,"" Ryder said.
""But late in the game he ended up getting in a few good spots and got on the end of a few.""
Despite Cloke's incredible work rate and gut running, Ryder was able to use his athleticism to match the Pies' leading goalkicker on the lead.
""I know he's a big, strong lad so I just wanted to stay off him and use my athleticism to get in late, put a spoil on [the ball] and bring it to ground for the crumbers,"" Ryder said.
""He just never stops running. I suppose when the ball is coming in too easily it's harder to man up on him because he's so dangerous.""
Ryder firmly believes the Bombers can still make finals despite being half a game out of the top eight and one of four sides competing for a spot in the finals.
Fremantle is sitting precariously in eighth spot after losing to Hawthorn on Saturday night, while North Melbourne, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are all still in contention despite losing their round 19 clashes.
The Bombers face the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium over the next two weeks, before heading to Perth to take on West Coast.
They then host bottom-placed Port Adelaide before sitting out the final round of the home and away season with the bye, potentially leaving their finals hopes in the hands of other sides.
""The belief [that the Bombers can make finals] is still there among all the boys,"" Ryder told essendonfc.com.au.
""We just need to string a couple [of wins] together at the end of the season.
""It's a challenge for us now and all the players will be up for it … we've just got to come out this week [against the Swans] and put in a better four-quarter performance, and hopefully we have a full team out on the park.""
Fremantle is sitting precariously in eighth spot after losing to Hawthorn on Saturday night, while North Melbourne, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are all still in contention despite losing their round 19 clashes.
The Bombers face the Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium over the next two weeks, before heading to Perth to take on West Coast.
They then host bottom-placed Port Adelaide before sitting out the final round of the home and away season with the bye, potentially leaving their finals hopes in the hands of other sides.
""The belief [that the Bombers can make finals] is still there among all the boys,"" Ryder told essendonfc.com.au.
""We just need to string a couple [of wins] together at the end of the season.
""It's a challenge for us now and all the players will be up for it … we've just got to come out this week [against the Swans] and put in a better four-quarter performance, and hopefully we have a full team out on the park.""
