Chris Bryan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Chris Bryan**
Personal information

Birth	March 6, 1982 (1982-03-06) (age 26),
Recruited from	Frankston
Height and weight	197cm / 100kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 11, June 4, 2005, Carlton vs. Sydney Swans, at Docklands (Now Telstra Dome)
Team(s)	Carlton (2005-2006) 16 games, 9 goals Collingwood (2007-) 12 games, 6 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season
Career highlights

Chris "Bear" Bryan (born March 6, 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

A mature-aged recruit, Bryan was drafted in the sixth round (no.73 overall) by Carlton in the 2004 AFL Draft. He was 22 years old, and given a second-chance, showing enough at VFL level for both Sandringham and Frankston. He would make his debut for the Carlton in Round 11, 2005 against Sydney and showed an immediate sign he was an aggressive and mobile ruckman, having 20 disposals and 17 hitouts. He would play the next 11 games, with his form an issue to see him dropped for the last round. In round 21 he would amazingly have 0 disposals, but managed 20 hitouts, a career-high. He was the replacement of Barnaby French who was out with a foot injury.

He struggled in the 2006 season, as Dylan McLaren was recruited to fill the secondary ruck position behind French. Bryan would play only five games, all towards the end of the season, but was dropped to the VFL reserves for the finals. Bryan was delisted by Carlton after two seasons.

Bryan nominated for the pre-season draft, and was taken by Collingwood at no.8 overall. He was a required player with limited ruck stocks, with Josh Fraser and Guy Richards the two key big men. Bryan made his debut for the club on ANZAC Day, where he showed his big kick to black and white fans. A week later he would play his best game in his short career, having 15 touches, 9 marks and kicking 3 goals at AAMI Stadium against Adelaide to help an away win. His consistency would become a problem, being in and out of the side. He would be called up for an injured Fraser in the Semi-Final against West Coast, as well as the preliminary final against Geelong. He would kick a vital extra-time goal against the Eagles, but was beaten as a ruckman. He managed 12 games in his first season with his new club.