Ryan Ferguson (born 29 September 1981) is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He currently serves as head coach of the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). Ferguson played 47 AFL matches over five years at the Melbourne Football Club between 2003 and 2007, before a long state league career that included captaining West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and winning the club's best and fairest award on three occasions. He joined Richmond as a development coach in 2015 and was appointed the club's AFLW head coach ahead of the 2021 season.
Recruited from Victorian Football League (VFL) club Frankston Dolphins in the 2002 National Draft (fifth round selection; number 66 overall), Ferguson was a good contributor to the Demons as a tall defender and fill in ruckman. In 2003, Ferguson was listed as one of 28 players to have started his career in the VFL/VFA prior to his AFL Career.
Ferguson's debut season, 2003, saw him play 17 matches and kick one goal. For his efforts Ferguson was awarded the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy as the Demons' best first year player. After missing the entire 2004 AFL season through injury, Ferguson had his best season in 2005 playing 19 games including the Elimination final against Geelong. Both 2006 and 2007 were forgettable for the 6'6" (197 cm) defender as injuries restricted him to just three games in 2006 and five games in 2007.
In October 2007 Ferguson was delisted by Melbourne after playing 47 games and kicking six goals in his five seasons at the club.
In 2015 Ferguson joined Richmond as development coach and VFL line coach.
In November 2020, Ferguson was appointed head coach of Richmond's AFLW team for the 2021 season.
2003-2007 |