GSFL 2025: Family affair as Ryan Ballard plays league game alongside three sons Tristan, Seb and Jared

Ryan Ballard enjoyed a special moment on Saturday, playing a league game for Mt Barker alongside his three sons Tristan, Seb and Jared for the first time. The four Ballards ran out at Sounness Park in the opening round of the 2025 Great Southern Football League season, in their 23-point win over Royals. The family has had a strong connection with the Bulls but Ryan and his sons have not had a chance to play together in the same game. Tristan has returned to the Bulls this year after spending time with Newdegate in the Ongerup Football Association and playing reserves for Claremont last season. Seb also spent time in the WAFL with Claremont, winning a colts grand final in 2023 before coming back home last year. Jared made his league debut for the Bulls in 2024 and went on to play 12 senior games and is one of the club’s most promising juniors. Ryan hung up the boots and became an umpire in recent years, officiating in last year’s GSFL grand final. However he jumped at the rare chance to play a one-off league game with his sons. Bulls coach Gary Pope said it was a wonderful moment for the family and the club alike. “Its great to see stuff like that in footy,” Pope said. “Ryan’s daughter Charlotte played in the women’s winning grand final team so they are a big part of the club. “Ryan to be fair started with our pre-season in January and said if there if there was an opportunity to play with the three boys that would be great. “It was never a free ticket and when Sammy Lehmann was out, he was next in line.” Ryan played as a deep forward in his first league game since 2021 while Jared won plenty of the ball through the middle of the ground. Both Seb and Tristan were key parts of the Bulls defensive set-up that held the Lions to just one goal in the first quarter.