Ryan Griffen
A powerful Bulldogs midfielder whose explosive runs and fierce competitiveness defined his game, later sparking a major trade controversy.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Australian rules footballer·Birthday: July 27·Millennials
Biography
Ryan Griffen played Australian rules football with a ferocious intensity that made him impossible to ignore. Drafted by the Western Bulldogs, he developed from a talented youngster into the team's engine room, a bullocking midfielder known for breaking lines with his speed and power. At his peak, he was a match-winner, capable of gathering 30 possessions and kicking long, soaring goals. He won the Bulldogs' best and fairest award in 2013, cementing his status as the club's most important player. His career, however, took a dramatic turn in 2014 when he requested a trade to the new Greater Western Sydney Giants, a move that stunned the football world and left Bulldogs fans feeling betrayed. While he provided veteran leadership for the emerging Giants, the shadow of that departure never fully lifted. Griffen's story is one of brilliant, physical prowess intertwined with the complex loyalties and harsh business realities of modern professional sport.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ryan was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Charles Sutton Medal as the Western Bulldogs' best and fairest player in 2013.
- Was selected as an All-Australian squad member in 2013, recognizing him as one of the league's elite midfielders.
- Kicked 30 goals during the 2010 AFL season, a rare feat for a primary midfielder, showcasing his dual threat.
- Played over 250 AFL games across his career with the Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Did You Know?
He comes from a strong football family; his father, Mark Griffen, also played for the Western Bulldogs.
He was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft, a high selection that reflected his elite potential.
His trade request to Greater Western Sydney in 2014 was one of the most shocking player moves of the AFL's modern era.
He was known for his exceptionally long and accurate kicking, often scoring goals from outside 50 meters.
“You have to go when it's your turn to go, no questions asked.”
