Originally Published July 12 2022
WANDELLA Football Netball Club has always been a big part of Ryan Lancaster's life – and when the veteran Bomber runs out for his 400th senior game this Saturday, his enormous contribution to the red and black over 25 years will be duly celebrated.
After debuting in 1997 under Karl Chamberlain while still in the thirds, Lancaster has remained at his beloved Wandella for his entire career, a performance that makes him the club's games record holder.
But more important than the accolades and premierships, of which there have been many, is what the club means to him – family.
"I've grown up at this place really," Lancaster said. "My parents were committee members and still come to the footy most weeks. I came up through the fourths and I've always had all my mates playing here, so it's been a case of why go anywhere else?
"We've brought our family up here and now the kids are all coming up through the ranks – it's just a family club and I can't possibly think of anywhere else I'd rather play.
"I haven't had the chance to play with the boys (Archer, 14, Cooper, 16, and Alby, 10) yet as they're not quite old enough – but next year, if Archer can get a game in the twos or ones, then we'll see what happens.
"That would be pretty special as not many people get that opportunity to play alongside their kids.
"In saying that, when I first started playing footy, I was playing with all my mates and a few of the veteran senior players and now I'm playing with all of their kids.
"I've gone through a whole generation of players – and while playing with the younger guys makes me feel a bit younger at times, it also makes me feel a fair bit older as well," Lancaster said with a laugh.
Lancaster started his illustrious career in the red and black with a win at Hay all the way back in round 1, 1997 – the first of many victories.
The veteran defender has played in six premierships for his beloved club.
His first taste of success came in 2008, on the back of a long run of near-misses, with Wandella having qualified for the finals every season in that period – including four losing grand finals.
But that taste of defeat only made it sweeter for Lancaster when the club finally broke its run of outs.
"That first premiership, just to win one, was an unbelievable feeling," Lancaster said.
"The last five minutes of that game, we knew we had it, which was pretty special, Moulamein beat us in the semi and the grand final was close all day, but it was just an amazing feeling when the siren went, especially after being so close for so long.
"To top it off, we have our reunion this weekend for the 2011 and 2012 flags as well, so it'll be a pretty big day for the club.
"(The 2017 side) was probably the pick of the teams – we had gun players on every line that year – but then to win four in a row was a pretty special era for the club."
Lancaster has also enjoyed personal success with Wandella, having won the seniors best-and-fairest in 2001 and 2002 – and while his success wouldn't have come without hard work, it's one of his earliest coaches who Lancaster credits with having a major impact on his footy.
"Roger Baker, as a coach, had a big influence on me and really turned things around for the club," Lancaster said.
"In my younger days I could be a bit wilder and he pulled me aside one night at training and had a bit of a word to me. From then on I started to realise that I could play a bit and needed to put my head down.
"But there have been many people who have influenced me along the way. I played around 200 games with Stuart Keating and as a Wandella kid, he was just a legend of the club, having held the previous club games record."
Lancaster's wife Janda and four children (daughter Emilie is 17) are or have been involved with the Wandella football and netball clubs, and will all be present on Saturday afternoon to see the veteran's remarkable feat.
Like her husband, Janda is a Wandella local whose parents live not far from the recreation reserve.
"What brought me to the club was meeting Ryan 21 years ago – we've got so many close family friends through the club now that we'd never contemplate going anywhere else," Janda said.
"The commitment that he's shown the club and to his footy is just next level – he had one season where he broke his ankle, which turned things upside down a little bit, but his commitment to his training and his football has been amazing.
"Saturday's going to be a pretty big day. The kids are all pretty excited and there's a couple of things that we have organised that will be pretty exciting to have happen on the day.
"If you're asking Alby – who really wants to play footy with his dad – when he thinks he'll hang up the boots, then he'd say he wants him to play 500 games.
"But he's still playing good footy and deserves to be in the seniors, so to reach this milestone and still be playing the standard of footy that he is, is pretty incredible.
"The kids are pretty proud of their dad and they just love getting out and having a kick with him as well."
