Fremantle Dockers Next Generation product Ryda Luke boots eight half goals in a half for South Fremantle colts

Fremantle might be set to uncover another diamond through their Next Generation Academy program after Ryda Luke produced an incredible eight-goal half of football at colts level. Luke kicked all eight of his majors before half time in a stunning performance for South Fremantle in their 17.7 (109) to 3.8 (26) colts win over Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday. It was only Luke’s seventh game at the level, with the teenager having come up Mundijong last year to play colts football for South Fremantle. The 186cm forward is tied to the Dockers through their NGA and could follow in the footsteps of Brandon Walker, Josh Draper and Liam Henry in pulling on the chevrons after coming through the pathway. South Fremantle colts coach Matt Rogers said Luke’s bag against the Swans was a result of a big pre-season. “Ryda’s a power athlete. He’s super quick off the mark, very athletic and agile. Takes a nice mark overhead. At times his endurance but he’s super powerful off the mark,” Rogers said. “To kick eight goals in a half, he was incredibly accurate. It’s a reward for a good pre-season. “On the lead up, he creates separation with his speed. He’s a hard match-up because if you play tall on him, he’s too quick but if you play small, he is too good in the air. He uses his body well.” Luke played five games for South Fremantle last year and could’ve kicked another big haul of goals in round one if he had been accurate, kicking 2.6 against Perth. “It took him a bit to come out of his shell. He was quite a shy kid but now he’s got confidence in his body after work at training and in the gym,” Rogers said. “He’s got a lot to learn mainly defensively and his endurance, but he’s put in an incredible pre-season. He’s gone to work on things that we’re weaknesses and he’s improved out of sight.” Rogers said Luke was on the radar of the state under-18 selectors but had to improve his work up the ground to get a gig when their campaign started. “Performances like that it won’t hurt. As he gets comfortable, we’ve got to get him to play higher as well,” he said.