Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, where Brennan Cox will celebrate his 150th AFL game for Fremantle, Ryan said watching his great mate grow and change over his journey has been as special as it has been fun. 

Speaking to the Club, Ryan jokingly remarked that, despite the pair being taken in the later stages of the 2016 National Draft and relocating to WA, their now well-known friendship actually got off to a shaky start. 

“It's actually funny because we actually didn't really like each other at the start,” Ryan joked. 

“We went on to camp (when we first arrived at the Club), and he took all the things for himself and left a few of us out in the rain. 

“But after that, I don't know, we just clicked. 

“He's just so funny. Everyone loves Coxy, no one can say a bad word about him. 

“He gets around everyone, connects with everyone, always puts a smile on your face, always loves a laugh, and that's probably why we're such good mates. 

“We’ve just known each other pretty well from that.

Now a decade into Cox’s career, Ryan says he’s in awe of his mate’s ability to have played a variety of roles, but the biggest change he’s seen in him has been in recent years with Cox welcoming his first child Arlo into the world with fiancée Keah. 

“Fatherhood! Obviously, having little Arlo and having another one on the way, and getting engaged to Keah, he's changed a fair bit, but in such a good way,” Ryan said. 

“He's such a good father and a good partner. 

“He's always got a smile when he's with them. 

“Just how good of a dad he is. It's really good to see.” 

A cheeky jibe between the two is never far away, but it’s always coated in sincerity at its core.

“He's played forward, he'll probably tell you about how he kicked four against the Crows once on (Daniel) Talia,” Ryan said. 

“He's played ruck, back, forward, ruck again, but just his composure and his aerial dominance is just one of the best I've seen.” 

A special moment for Ryan, and a highlight of their friendship, was put on display at Fremantle’s 2024 Doig Medal Presentation Dinner when Ryan was inducted as a Club Life Member, with Cox taking centre stage in front of hundreds to lead the tribute to his mate. 

“It was pretty special, nearly had a tear in my eye,” Ryan said, reflecting on the night. 

“He was pretty emotional, the big fella, it was good.

“He's one of my closest mates, if not like ever. So, to see him get up there and do that and speak from the heart was a pretty cool moment. Not one I’ll forget.” 

After spending his whole AFL career in WA, Cox will reach his 150-game milestone in front of family and friends in his native South Australia. 

“Couldn't time it any better, really,” Ryan said. 

“We spoke to his mum this morning and she was so excited, trying to get everything organised. 

“They've got family coming over from all over the country, my parents are going to be there. 

“A great mate of ours, Taylin Duman, is going to be there. Keah and Arlo, they’re going to come across. 

“It's going to be such a special moment, hopefully.”