They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
When life as we knew it changed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, that was one thing Ryan Kitto learnt as he – like everyone else – searched for silver linings in the gloom.
Enduring a tough spell in his career at Adelaide United, along came an enforced four-month break between games.
It helped Kitto take his mind off football – the game which had consumed his life.
He came back a better player, under a new head coach who has since turned Kitto into a key cog in the Adelaide machine, a leader, and for the first time this season, a stand-in captain.
Last week he scored the goal that sealed fourth spot for his side, and a home final against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday night. It was the best goal of his professional tenure; Kitto says he’s scored better in the NPL, but the importance of the moment at hand left the Reds number seven with no doubt of its prominence in his career as it lashed the back of the net.
These are the moments Kitto savours as he reflects on his Reds journey.
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Kitto plays at left-back these days, a position once foreign to the 27-year-old who Reds fans became accustomed to seeing flying down the wing as part of an energetic attack.
In 2017-18 Kitto scored seven goals – his best single-season output to date in the A-League Men’s. The following campaign saw the return of Craig Goodwin and Ben Halloran. It was when the opportunity arose for Kitto to ply his trade in a new role under then-Reds boss Marco Kurz.
“I remember off the back of that season where I scored a few goals, Marco brought Craig Goodwin back to the club and Ben Halloran – both wingers,” Kitto told KEEPUP. “He floated the idea very early in the pre-season about me playing at full-back.
“I said: ‘No, I want to challenge. I want to go head-to-head with these guys and try and play’. I worked out pretty quickly that they’re not bad players. I was struggling for minutes, so he raised the question about halfway through the mark, and said: ‘Do you want to play left-back?’ And I said: ‘Do you know what? I’m pretty keen to play – yeah, I’ll do that’.”
Kitto played 25 times that season – the equal-most of any individual campaign in his eight-season A-League Men’s career.
But challenging times were ahead. The departure of Kurz at the end of the 2018-19 campaign opened the door for the arrival of Gertjan Verbeek; the Dutchman signed a two-year contract with the club, but lasted just 23 rounds into the 2019-20 season.
Two months prior to the league’s suspension, Kitto was caught in Verbeek’s crossfires, lambasted by his head coach, and even labelled as “not good enough for the A-League” as he continued to learn his trade in defence. It was an early sign of Verbeek’s tenure unravelling.
The season stalled in March, with the Reds on a four-game losing streak. Play resumed in July. By that time, Adelaide legend Carl Veart was in Verbeek’s place as interim, a role which became permanent the following season. Veart has since taken the Reds to back-to-back finals campaigns. Kitto has since become one of the prime beneficiaries of Veart’s takeover.
“It was certainly a challenging time in my footballing career – but one that I learnt a lot from,” Kitto said, reflecting on the 2019-20 campaign. “I was very direct and set in my ways, everything I did revolved around football. At that period I needed to take a bit of a step back from the game and realise there’s more to life, and find enjoyment in other parts. It allowed me to be more relaxed and enjoy my football.
“At the end of the day, we all play football because we love it. During that era it was certainly challenging, I wasn’t loving my football. (I took) a step back and realised why I do what I do, and why I want to do it, and get my love back for the game and rebuild from there. I’ve enjoyed my last couple of years and I’m very grateful for what Carl and (former assistant coach Ross Aloisi) have done for me.
“It (the COVID shutdown) was a bit of a blessing in disguise. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so maybe it just was the right thing I needed at that particular time, and even going back into the hub when Carl was the interim manager was really enjoyable. I really enjoyed playing football then.
“I think there were six or seven games in the hub and he started me in all of them. That was nice as well. It was the highs and lows of being a professional footballer, but I’m lucky at the moment I’m in a good place and enjoying it.”
Kitto added: “I’ve loved working under Carl, and Ross when he was at the club, and now (assistant coach Damian Mori) coming in. We’re all on the same page.
“I think it’s just down to really enjoying my football. I love the playing group, I like the culture within the team and to play a part of it, and to get that many minutes and starts this season, I’ve been very happy with that.”
Last season it was Noah Smith competing with Kitto for minutes at left-back under Veart. His departure to Sunday’s opponents Central Coast left both Kitto and Joshua Cavallo to vie for a spot in Veart’s XI in 2021-22I; Kitto began the campaign higher up the pitch as Goodwin returned to full health, but has since nailed down his position in the side operating behind the Reds captain down the left.
He’s never made more starts or played more minutes in a single season than he has in 2021-22.
“I suppose this year it’s been a more consistent role,” he said. “Carl has trusted me, Ross has trusted me and I’ve known if I do my job that position is mine to take. I really enjoy that, and I enjoy the challenges but also the responsibility.
“I’ve been able to help other players in other aspects of games in and around the club – it’s been a good feeling. I’ve felt at home, I’ve felt comfortable. I’ve really enjoyed this season.
“That first season after the hub, I realised there was an opportunity. I felt like I could add value to the team.
“I was able to come in at the back end of the season and have a bit of an impact, and even at the start of the season I played the first few games on the wing because Goodwin was coming back from an injury, then got the opportunity at left-back. I think that’s when we both realised that’s probably my best position going forward, and where I can do my best role for the team. I suppose that was probably the moment.”
Amidst his transition from one position to another, Kitto has incrementally become one of Adelaide’s most experienced players amongst one of the youngest squads in the league.
“It’s a different position. More responsibility – but it’s one I’ve really enjoyed,” he said. “I get a real thrill out of helping younger players, and seeing them grow and improve. Adelaide’s the perfect environment for that. We haven’t got the biggest budget to operate on, so we do rely on our young talent. That’s something we’ve been very blessed to have.
“I suppose as we move into these games and I have a bit more of a role to play in that leadership sense, making sure everybody is ready and not getting overwhelmed by the occasion, it’s something I look forward to and I get a lot of satisfaction from as well.”
