It's believed the 39-year-old had headphones on when struck by a train while running.

"He made the rooms before a game feel electric," former NSW Corowa-Rutherglen coach Peter Tossol said.

"You were always taken by how driven he was and he played one or two games which were as good as you get."

Ryan romped home by 10 votes in the league medal.

Ironically, the Roos' current mentor in Peter German coached him at Subiaco from 2004.

"He was the life of the party, he was outspoken, he was passionate, he was caring, he was popular," he said.

"When you think of Jake, you can't help but have a smile on your face, how he lived his life (to the full)."

Even opponents praised him.

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"He was always their best player, he would do everything to win, but was also a bloke you could have a chat to after," ex-Yarrawonga's Craig Ednie said.

Ryan also represented the league..

"The SS&A O&M was saddened to hear overnight of the tragic passing of former Corowa-Rutherglen player and 2008 Morris Medallist Jake Ryan. The League passes on our deepest sympathies to his family and friends," chairman David Sinclair said.

The gutsy on-baller had two years at the Roos.

"I know there's a number of people from Corowa that have contacted me that are feeling pretty flat," Tossol said.