A lot of people talk about 'being yourself' in life but it in reality it's an incredibly hard thing to do, particularly as a young person.
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North Launceston football product Ryley Sanders seems to have a way at 19 years of age.
Sanders will on Sunday achieve his dream of playing in the AFL when he debuts for the Western Bulldogs in round one against Melbourne at the MCG.
The match starts at 1pm and he has been picked on the half-forward flank.
It means two Launceston exports will debut with Launceston Blues' Colby McKercher suiting up for North Melbourne against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
Ryley, who was taken at pick six the 2023 AFL draft, will have his parents Adam and Ange in the crowd as well as his older brother, Ollie.
They'll be joined by the teenager's grand parents, aunties, uncles and friends.
"It feels great - I've just been stoked with how welcoming all the players and coaches have been towards me," Ryley said.
"I've just felt so comfortable and they've let me do the things that got me drafted, so I'm glad that's shown in the pre-season and Bevo (Luke Beveridge) and the coaches have picked me.
"It's an unreal opportunity to debut at any time, but especially in round one in front of a big crowd at the MCG against a good side in Melbourne - it'll be great."
Adam said the family were over the moon.
"It's probably been 10 years since he played his first proper game of footy with North Launnie under-9s," he said.
"That seems like only yesterday to be honest - to go from that to playing against (Christian) Petracca, (Clayton) Oliver, (Jack) Viney and (Max) Gawn - it seems to have happened very quickly."
It was a proud mum moment for Ange when she took the call from Ryley on Thursday about his debut which has been broadcast by the Bulldogs.
From football royalty
Sanders, who previously played with the Tasmania Devils, moved to Melbourne at the start of 2022 to attend Melbourne Grammar and went on to win back-to-back premierships with Sandringham Dragons in the Talent League.
He hails from one of Launceston's great footy families.
Adam, a North Launceston premiership player and life member, coached the Tassie Mariners which are now the Devils.
Ryley's grandfather Rob is a premiership coach and prolific volunteer at North Launceston who was inducted as a club legend in 2017.
Adam and uncle Kerry have both coached Launceston Blues to premierships, while cousin Kane led the Blues to a development league flag in 2020.
Ryley, who attended St Patrick's College, made his State League debut for the Bombers in 2020 as a 15-year-old and played alongside Ollie.
Adam said he was the first of the family to reach AFL level.
Dealing with the hype
Long-time Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has labeled him the best first-year player he has seen walk into Whitten Oval and highlighted his diligence.
Meanwhile, leading pundit David King has predicted he will win the Rising Star award as the competition's best young player.
Ryley reinforced that excitement with a 30-disposal pre-season match against Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium.
Adam said Ryley didn't look at a lot of the media commentary.
"He's not insulated from it completely because that's impossible but particularly probably in the last 12-18 months he's made a concerted effort just to read what he needs to," he said.
"It is important to take on the things people are saying about you which is probably reinforcing what you're doing well.
"But also it's important to weigh it up as well because it can be quite a fickle industry and people are going to have a crack at you at some stage."
Adam said Beveridge's compliments were encouraging for the youngster but said Ryley knew he had to keep working hard, year-after-year to improve.
An incredibly driven player
Adam said Ryley had always been self-motivated.
"He's quite an inspirational young man the way he goes about things in that he is able to prioritise what he needs to get done to be good at something," he said.
The teenager hails from one of the city's great footballing families so it's reasonable to assume he has picked up some handy tips across the journey.
"He's had some advice whether it's me or other coaches or strength-and-conditioning people," Adam said.
"What I suppose he has done is taken it to another level through his own dedication.
"And it's working and he enjoys doing it. Even today (Friday) he's at the club getting a massage and the physio.
"I've always said to him, 'If that's what you want to do, go and do it, it doesn't mean because other players don't do it - it's wrong.
"You do what works for you if it's a fully-professional life you want to live'."
Adam shed light on the diligence Beveridge alluded to.
He said Ryley had bought his own compression boots and a Theragun (massage gun) with money had saved up while still at school.
As is the case with anyone who throws a lot of energy into their work, outlets are important; and Ryley has put time in that.
"He's got the balance right now, he's got a few things he does on his off days, he'll go and play a bit of golf or go to MSAC in Melbourne for a recovery and a swim," Adam said.
"Or he'll go to Melbourne Grammar and catch up with some of the boarding boys he's mentoring."