No pressure on Schoenmakers to fill Croad's role

[noosa hawk mad]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/88894/default.aspx

Young Hawk Ryan Schoenmakers

• Trackside blog: pre-season up close

By Steve Lavell 6:28 PM Fri 22 January, 2010
HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell says there is no pressure on emerging defender Ryan Schoenmakers to fill the void left by premiership backman Trent Croad.

Croad announced his retirement earlier this month, succumbing to a foot injury that prevented him from playing another game after the 2008 grand final.

Schoenmakers made his debut in Croad's absence last season, featuring in 13 matches as the Hawks tried to plug gaps in their depleted defence.

Mitchell said the 19-year-old had the physical attributes to hold down a key position and had worked particularly hard over the pre-season.

"It's pretty exciting when you've got a guy who's six-foot-four or five who can run like he does and is as strong as he [is]," Mitchell said from the Hawks' training session at Pakenham on Friday.


"You look at the really good clubs from last year and someone like (Geelong's Matthew) Scarlett doesn't always do that role where he just really shuts someone down.

"St Kilda is the same. They were able to mix and match a little bit. I think our back half is probably going to have to be able do the same thing with lots of versatile players who can play on different opponents."



With the help of Gilham & Gibbo F1 will Hold down CHB his speed of the Mark is unbelievable IMO his reading of the play & better decision making will be areas he'll need to improve on he has Bulked up over summer as we have all heard so some great years ahead for young Shoenmakers you can see why Port were so interested in landing him...

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

I hope there is pressure on someone to fill the Croad hole.

We need someone who can shut down a gun forward and beat them one on one.

Gibbo can pinch hit. I would love the club to come out and say Gilly has bulked up he will be our main KPD.

 

[Bosk]

Au contraire it's no secret that Shoenmakers is being groomed to fill Croad's shoes, and our backline depth is such that he will be required to perform sooner, not later.
Regardless of the spin, clearly there's a lot of pressure on this kid's shoulders - too much, if you ask me.

He has huge shoes to fill, we can only hope the young man is up to the challenge.

 

[adelaide_crows]

I think it is a bit much for Schoenmakers to play key back all year as he is developing. I think you guys will play him partly as a key backman - depending on the CHF, 3rd tall defender and pinch hit in the Ruck. I think with his mobility and kicking skills for a big man would see him do OK for short bursts in Ruck

 

[Off The Couch]

Au contraire it's no secret that Shoenmakers is being groomed to fill Croad's shoes, and our backline depth is such that he will be required to perform sooner, not later.
Regardless of the spin, clearly there's a lot of pressure on this kid's shoulders - too much, if you ask me.

He has huge shoes to fill, we can only hope the young man is up to the challenge.

While he will be asked to play a role the pressure won't come from within the club, The pressure will come from supporters ala the likes that murphy received last year should he fail to stand up and meet some of the expectations that have been placed on him just on this board alone and that would be unacceptable.

Should he receive the type of vitriol that murphy received last year then I would hope the mods would be red carding without warning.

 

[Bosk]

Should he receive the type of vitriol that murphy received last year then I would hope the mods would be red carding without warning.

I don't see why he would, Shoenmakers can read the ball in flight and has above average hand/eye co-ordination.

 

[Coathanger]

I don't think anyone with half a brain expects Ryan to fill Croads boots this season. Natural improvement and feeling more comfortable in his position within the team is all we can hope for.
If Ryan comes on, ala T.Pears from last season, all Hawks will be pleased.
2011/12 will be his breakthrough seasons you will find.

 

[Hodges]

If Ryan has a Pears like season I think we would all be ecstatic. Pears had an amazing season last year, really turned himself into a lockdown defender. I think 2010 will be a year of gradual improvements, with Boots really learning that art of the backman. I agree that '11/'12 should be where he starts to really impose himself on games.

 

[King Elvis]

I think it is a bit much for Schoenmakers to play key back all year as he is developing. I think you guys will play him partly as a key backman - depending on the CHF, 3rd tall defender and pinch hit in the Ruck. I think with his mobility and kicking skills for a big man would see him do OK for short bursts in Ruck

Would get bashed up in the ruck - he's still a young, growing lad, and is undersized for the ruck, you don't want to subject his body to that constantly.

I seriously expect him to play CHB maybe 60%-80% of the time, 20% of the time as the second/third tall, and 20% on the wing or tagging somebody like Adam Goodes.

I'm also expecting Roughhead to spend a bit of time in defense this year, when you're playing against guys like John Brown or Barry Hall. I think Schoey will be able to handle most of the tall forwards in the comp, but bigger, stronger guys like that he's going to need a hand.

 

[suedehead]

Would get bashed up in the ruck - he's still a young, growing lad, and is undersized for the ruck, you don't want to subject his body to that constantly.

I seriously expect him to play CHB maybe 60%-80% of the time, 20% of the time as the second/third tall, and 20% on the wing or tagging somebody like Adam Goodes.

I'm also expecting Roughhead to spend a bit of time in defense this year, when you're playing against guys like John Brown or Barry Hall. I think Schoey will be able to handle most of the tall forwards in the comp, but bigger, stronger guys like that he's going to need a hand.

Hey King Elvis, I know from previous posts that you’re a friend of the Schoenmakers family. Is that info about Roughy playing in defence just a hunch or do you have inside info suggesting that it will happen?

 

[matty_hawk]

I don't think anyone with half a brain expects Ryan to fill Croads boots this season. Natural improvement and feeling more comfortable in his position within the team is all we can hope for.
If Ryan comes on, ala T.Pears from last season, all Hawks will be pleased.
2011/12 will be his breakthrough seasons you will find.

I dont expect him to fill Croad's role, but i get the same feeling i got from buddy at the same age.

The boy is huge and i think has the ability to at least break even with his opponent.

 

[King Elvis]

Hey King Elvis, I know from previous posts that you’re a friend of the Schoenmakers family. Is that info about Roughy playing in defence just a hunch or do you have inside info suggesting that it will happen?

Just a hunch mate - I only really talk about Ryan with them.

It just seems to me that no matter how well Ryan prepares or performs, guys like J Brown or B Hall or K Tippett are going to monster him until he has another year or two of experience and size/muscle under his belt; he'll be able to run with them now without too many issues, but if a Brown or a Hall or a Fev is planted in the goalsquare 1 out with Ryan, I don't think he's got the bulk to go with them.

That being said, we're talking about him as a CHB, not a FB, but I think it's something other teams will try and exploit him and drag him back where his pace and athleticism isn't useful. Say you play the Lions and Ryan starts on Brown at CHB; I think he'd go alright - he can use his speed and fitness to try and lead Brown to the ball (or at least be all over him when he's going for a mark), and then use that and his footskills to hurt him on the rebound. He does that for a quarter and breaks even (or is only just beaten) by Brown, I'd be throwing Brown back to FF and telling him to make it a wrestling match.

Looking through your list, and you guys would know better than me, Roughy looks like the obvious choice to pinch hit in defense if somebody has to stand a 'power' forward, especially considering the reports that Franklin is looking sensational.

 

[suedehead]

Just a hunch mate - I only really talk about Ryan with them.

It just seems to me that no matter how well Ryan prepares or performs, guys like J Brown or B Hall or K Tippett are going to monster him until he has another year or two of experience and size/muscle under his belt; he'll be able to run with them now without too many issues, but if a Brown or a Hall or a Fev is planted in the goalsquare 1 out with Ryan, I don't think he's got the bulk to go with them.

That being said, we're talking about him as a CHB, not a FB, but I think it's something other teams will try and exploit him and drag him back where his pace and athleticism isn't useful. Say you play the Lions and Ryan starts on Brown at CHB; I think he'd go alright - he can use his speed and fitness to try and lead Brown to the ball (or at least be all over him when he's going for a mark), and then use that and his footskills to hurt him on the rebound. He does that for a quarter and breaks even (or is only just beaten) by Brown, I'd be throwing Brown back to FF and telling him to make it a wrestling match.

Looking through your list, and you guys would know better than me, Roughy looks like the obvious choice to pinch hit in defense if somebody has to stand a 'power' forward, especially considering the reports that Franklin is looking sensational.

Cheers for that, mate. I can't wait to see how Ryan goes this year.