Ryan Fitzgerald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Fitzgerald |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ryan James Fitzgerald | ||
| Nickname(s) | Fitzy | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| Original team | South Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| Draft |
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| Position(s) | Forward | ||
Ryan James Fitzgerald (born 16 October 1976) is a well-known Australian radio host, TV presenter, and comedian. He used to be a professional Aussie Rules footballer. Ryan, often called "Fitzy," started his media career after playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). He became famous after appearing on Big Brother Australia in 2004.
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Ryan Fitzgerald's Early Life
Ryan Fitzgerald grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. He went to Wirreanda High School. As a young player, he played junior football for the Port Noarlunga Football Club. This is where he first showed his talent for Aussie Rules.
Ryan's AFL Career: 2000–2002
Ryan was a tall forward, standing at 199 cm. The Sydney Swans picked him as the 4th overall player in the 1998 AFL Draft. He joined the Swans from the South Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Debuting in the AFL
Ryan's start in the AFL was delayed. He had a shoulder injury that kept him from playing until the 2000 season. When he finally made his debut, he played amazingly well. He kicked five goals in his very first game. People thought he would have a huge career in the sport. He played nine more games that season.
Injuries and Retirement
In the 2001 season, Ryan faced another setback. He injured his knee and needed a major surgery called a reconstruction. This meant he missed the entire season. In the 2002 season, he moved to the Adelaide Crows. However, he only played eight games for the Crows. He had another serious knee injury, an ACL injury, which required another surgery. Because of these repeated injuries, Ryan decided to retire from AFL football.
Ryan's Media Career
After his football career ended, Ryan Fitzgerald moved into the world of television and radio. He quickly became a popular personality.
Big Brother and TV Shows
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In 2004, Ryan was a contestant on Big Brother Australia. He finished in fourth place, which helped him become widely known. After Big Brother, he started co-hosting the breakfast radio show on Nova 91.9 in Adelaide. He also made appearances on Channel 10's AFL show Before The Game.
In 2005, Ryan became a co-host on Friday Night Live, a show related to Big Brother. This show later became Friday Night Games in 2006. It then changed to Friday Night Download, which featured funny internet videos.
Radio Success with Fitzy and Wippa
In October 2010, Ryan announced he was leaving Nova 91.9 Breakfast. He joined a new drive-time show called Fitzy and Wippa with his co-host Michael Wipfli. This show later became the breakfast show for Nova 96.9 in Sydney. The duo became very popular. They were even nominated for an award in 2011 for best on-air team.
Other TV Appearances
Ryan has appeared on many other TV shows. These include The Project, Studio 10, Reality Check, All Star Family Feud, The Front Bar, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
In 2012, Ryan tried acting for the first time. He appeared in an episode of the Nine Network series House Husbands. In 2016, he teamed up with Wipfli again to co-host the Nine Network show 20 to 1. Ryan also often appears on The Front Bar, filling in for the regular hosts. He is also a regular player in the fun charity game, the E. J. Whitten Legends Game.
