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Puts life into perspective.
04 July 2003
Schneider makes pledge to dying mate
04 July 2003 AFL
By TIM MORRISSEY
YOUNG Sydney Swans sensation Adam Schneider has revealed the tragic reason he wore a black armband against Port Adelaide last weekend.
Final pledge: Adam Schneider promised his dying mate John Jacobson that he would kick a goal against Port Adelaide last Saturday.
Picture: Brett Costello
Schneider played the game just days after the death of his best friend, a former junior teammate. Schneider was at his mate's bedside when he died.
Before the doctors turned off the life support machine and Schneider said his final goodbye, the 19-year-old Swan promised John Jacobson he'd kick a goal against Port last Saturday.
Schneider kept his word, kicking a brilliant goal from 55m out in the last quarter.
At the time none of his Sydney teammates really knew how important that kick was to the Swans' standout rookie.
After attending his childhood mate's funeral on Tuesday back home at Osborne, which is about 90 minutes west of Wagga in the Riverina, Schneider is dedicating the rest of the season to the memory of Jacobson.
"I got to see him just before the doctors turned off the life-support machine," Schneider said.
"That would have to be the toughest moment in my life. John was brain dead but I still got to say goodbye.
"When I was at the hospital I told John I was going to kick a goal for him against Port.
"His mother told me that would make him happy. My aim was to play really well in that game I guess it was all for John.
"I think he'd want me to kick a few more goals. He's always going to be with me in the back of my mind. I want to do John proud and make him happy."
This tragic story unfolded in the early hours last Sunday week during the AFL's mid-season break when Schneider was back home on the family farm in Osborne for the weekend.
The 21-year-old Jacobson was going to stay the night at the Schneider's farm, however, he had to attend a 21st birthday party first.
He was on the way home with four other people when their car ran off the road and hit a tree.
Jacobson, who was the only one with life-threatening injuries, was transferred to hospital in Sydney but died last Wednesday week.
"John was one of my best mates," Schneider said. "We lived 10 minutes away from each other and I played junior footy with him."
For Schneider it puts the brilliant rookie start to his AFL career into perspective.
"I remember growing up with John playing footy together," he said. "It makes you really think how in a split second everything can change and your life is different from that moment on."
Schneider is planning to wear a black armband for Sunday's clash against West Coast at the SCG.
He intends to honour the memory of his best mate for the corresponding Round 13 game every year.
"I'm slowly getting better, I guess," Schneider said.
Swans coach Paul Roos said everyone at the club was deeply affected when they found out about the tragic death, as well as impressed with the maturity Schneider has shown at a very difficult time.
"It certainly was a tough time for Adam last week," Roos said. "But I think the way he handled it was as well as you could expect.
"One of the other coaches asked me if had lost a friend when I was 19-years-old. I hadn't. I guess, thank God, it doesn't happen all that often.
"We think we are pretty much bullet proof at that age. I'm sure this will make Adam take stock of life and appreciate his footy even more after what happened last week.
"As professional sports people, we think footy is the most important thing in our lives; in reality it's not.
"No matter how serious and consuming your career is to you, it's nowhere near as important as family and friends."
04 July 2003
Schneider makes pledge to dying mate
04 July 2003 AFL
By TIM MORRISSEY
YOUNG Sydney Swans sensation Adam Schneider has revealed the tragic reason he wore a black armband against Port Adelaide last weekend.
Final pledge: Adam Schneider promised his dying mate John Jacobson that he would kick a goal against Port Adelaide last Saturday.
Picture: Brett Costello
Schneider played the game just days after the death of his best friend, a former junior teammate. Schneider was at his mate's bedside when he died.
Before the doctors turned off the life support machine and Schneider said his final goodbye, the 19-year-old Swan promised John Jacobson he'd kick a goal against Port last Saturday.
Schneider kept his word, kicking a brilliant goal from 55m out in the last quarter.
At the time none of his Sydney teammates really knew how important that kick was to the Swans' standout rookie.
After attending his childhood mate's funeral on Tuesday back home at Osborne, which is about 90 minutes west of Wagga in the Riverina, Schneider is dedicating the rest of the season to the memory of Jacobson.
"I got to see him just before the doctors turned off the life-support machine," Schneider said.
"That would have to be the toughest moment in my life. John was brain dead but I still got to say goodbye.
"When I was at the hospital I told John I was going to kick a goal for him against Port.
"His mother told me that would make him happy. My aim was to play really well in that game I guess it was all for John.
"I think he'd want me to kick a few more goals. He's always going to be with me in the back of my mind. I want to do John proud and make him happy."
This tragic story unfolded in the early hours last Sunday week during the AFL's mid-season break when Schneider was back home on the family farm in Osborne for the weekend.
The 21-year-old Jacobson was going to stay the night at the Schneider's farm, however, he had to attend a 21st birthday party first.
He was on the way home with four other people when their car ran off the road and hit a tree.
Jacobson, who was the only one with life-threatening injuries, was transferred to hospital in Sydney but died last Wednesday week.
"John was one of my best mates," Schneider said. "We lived 10 minutes away from each other and I played junior footy with him."
For Schneider it puts the brilliant rookie start to his AFL career into perspective.
"I remember growing up with John playing footy together," he said. "It makes you really think how in a split second everything can change and your life is different from that moment on."
Schneider is planning to wear a black armband for Sunday's clash against West Coast at the SCG.
He intends to honour the memory of his best mate for the corresponding Round 13 game every year.
"I'm slowly getting better, I guess," Schneider said.
Swans coach Paul Roos said everyone at the club was deeply affected when they found out about the tragic death, as well as impressed with the maturity Schneider has shown at a very difficult time.
"It certainly was a tough time for Adam last week," Roos said. "But I think the way he handled it was as well as you could expect.
"One of the other coaches asked me if had lost a friend when I was 19-years-old. I hadn't. I guess, thank God, it doesn't happen all that often.
"We think we are pretty much bullet proof at that age. I'm sure this will make Adam take stock of life and appreciate his footy even more after what happened last week.
"As professional sports people, we think footy is the most important thing in our lives; in reality it's not.
"No matter how serious and consuming your career is to you, it's nowhere near as important as family and friends."
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