Fremantle first drafted Crowley in 2002 with selection 55 at the
national draft. At the end of 2004, having only played
WAFL football for
Subiaco, he was delisted. However, the club gave Crowley a second chance and re-selected him with their 3rd pick in the rookie draft. Good form with Subiaco in 2005 led to his elevation to the senior list when both
Robert Haddrill and his replacement
Michael Warren were placed on the long term injury list. His debut was notable in that he became only the third Fremantle player to kick three goals on debut (along with
Leigh Wardell-Johnson and
Paul Medhurst), and these goals helped Fremantle to an upset nine-point victory over at
Skilled Stadium. His continued good form in the second half of the 2005 season including 4 goals against
Carlton at the
MCG saw Ryan elevated to the senior list for the 2006 season. Early in the 2006 season, Ryan got a heavy blow to the face during a shepherd from
Byron Pickett, and received a broken cheekbone. Crowley continued to improve throughout the 2007 season, having gathered 319 disposals in 19 games and earning a regular spot in the Fremantle midfield as a winger/onballer who can kick goals.
Conversion to a tagger In 2008, however, he developed into a defensive midfielder or tagger and notoriously played on opposition stars such as
Gary Ablett, Jr. and
Daniel Kerr. He finished the year well, coming equal fifth in Fremantle's
fairest and best award, the
Doig Medal. In 2009 Crowley injured his foot in the Round 6
Western Derby and was ruled out for between three months and the entire season. He didn't return to the Fremantle side until the first round of 2010. He played the first 16 games of the season, before injuring his knee against
Melbourne, missing the next six games. He returned for Fremantle's two finals, after proving his fitness in a dominant display in the
WAFL for Subiaco, kicking seven goals. He continued to nullify the opponent's best midfielder each week and won the Doig Medal in 2012 as Fremantle's
best and fairest player. In 2013 he was suggested as being worthy of selection in the
All-Australian team, The banned substance has not been named, but is thought to be from a
painkiller that was not prescribed by the club doctor. In June 2015, the AFL Tribunal suspended Crowley for twelve months; the suspension was backdated to the start of his provisional suspension, and he became eligible to play again on 25 September 2015. He was subsequently delisted in October.
Essendon In January 2016, he signed with as one of their top-up players due to the
supplements saga. ==Statistics==