Following the Bombers' 49-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, Ryder said he had a chance to reflect on his football, and found it was not where it needed to be in the first half of the season.
""I just had a deep look at myself and started on the training track to really train as hard as I can and get the advice from the coaches to get back to playing well,"" Ryder said.
""I just took it all back to basics and I've turned my form around a bit.""
The 23-year-old said a move to the back line where he played on Collingwood forward Travis Cloke in round 19 gave him a fresh outlook.
""Just to play on a good player and get my concentration back to a high level; it's shown in my last couple of games that a stint in the back line has helped a lot,"" he said.
Essendon coach James Hird has been steadfast in his defence of his talented player this year, and Ryder said he has a good relationship with the first-year coach and former teammate.
""When I was going through a bit of a tough time early on in the year I had a couple of one-on-one chats with him and got back to basics,"" he said.
""So he's been a big help for me this year.""
The Bombers have almost ensured their spot in the finals after a big win over the Western Bulldogs last night, and Ryder said key defender Dustin Fletcher looms as a major factor in the Bombers' finals campaign.
""He's just one of a kind that bloke, all the blokes love him at the club,"" he said.
""When you see him do his stuff out on the field, we watch in awe watching him do what he does; it's team lifting everything he does out there.""
Michael Hurley also shapes as a pivotal component for Essendon's finals chances, despite having to manage ongoing stress reactions in his foot.
Ryder said he thinks the versatile youngster is more suited to a forward post than in defence.
""I think he's suited to the forward line a lot more, he's one of the best kicks at goal and he works really hard,"" Ryder said.
