I think one of the reasons Ryan doesn’t have higher support is that he burned people for a few seasons in the past. What happened in the past should not determine what you do in a new year when we should reset but as humans that is exactly what we do. We let it influence us.
His first four years were upward growth resulting in a 107 ave in 2020. People jumped on in 2021 thinking he is on his way to premo status but he disappointed somewhat with 99. One of those seasons where you cannot justify trading him out but it isn’t what you paid for. So in 2022 some people forgave him and thought he would bounce back and others saw a premo scorer at a discount price and they both jumped on. He rewarded them with 96. Thoughly annoying those that had backed him in to return to his 107 form and disappointing those that were on him for the first time expecting a value buy. In fact it was only his last six games that saved him that year. At the end of rd 17 his ave was 90 and included six scores of 75 or less and some owners may have ditched him by this time. But from rd 18 he went bonkers. Which probably sent people that had traded him out completely bonkers. His last six scores were 128, 128, 110, 146, 65, 100. He put up two tons in the finals as well.
Then come 2023 many of those previous owners decided not again. So imagine their frustration to see him go 109 without one game below 83. Seven of his first eight games produced tons and showed his capacity for a high ceiling. Where was that for the past two years when I had you?
And people who had never owned him may have thought the 107 was a bit of a spike given the following years and may have looked elsewhere in 2023.
Hence I think he may have put off a lot of coaches in the past and that combined with the reports of his recent kicking “problem” could be reflected in his ownership this year.