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'Schneiderman' not fazed by attention
By Margie McDonald
March 31, 2004
ADAM SCHNEIDER should be feeling pressure that would cause most 19-year-olds to buckle but, if he is, he isn't showing it.
Schneider is hoping to make his return for the Sydney Swans from a hamstring injury against Fremantle on Sunday. He has been touted as the man to fill the void left by forward Nick Davis, who kicked four goals in less than half a game of football against premiers Brisbane last Saturday before injuring his hip-flexor muscle.
On top of that, Schneider knows he will receive closer attention from opposing players than he did last year, when he burst on to the scene to play a key role in the Swans' surprise run to a preliminary final.
But the laidback country boy is not fazed by the high expectations awaiting him.
"Last year I had nothing to lose and this year I'm just going to go out there and continue to do what I love doing," Schneider said yesterday.
The only thing keeping the goal sneak from his debut for 2004 is his right hamstring, which he injured five weeks ago in Sydney's opening Wizard Cup match against Carlton.
"It's feeling pretty good," Schneider said. "I'm going to put it through some hard training on Wednesday so that'll be the big test for it I guess. But I haven't felt it for about two weeks."
A left-foot kicker, he initially didn't realise the extent of the injury.
"I did it about half-time and I never thought I tore it," Schneider said. "It just felt tight and I played the second half with it but I got a scan after the game and it was torn."
Aside from helping to offset the loss of Nick Davis, who has been ruled out of football for a month, Schneider's return would mean Swans fans can dust off their "Schneiderman" banners.
Schneider played all 24 games last year, kicking 30 goals. Unfazed by his small frame (178cm, 78kg) Schneider beat opponents with his speed and a thumping left-foot kick, which helped earn him the AFL Rising Star nomination for his three-goal effort against Melbourne on Anzac Day.
Schneider, who turns 20 in May, doesn't believe in the "second-season syndrome" that afflicts many young players, who perform above expectations in their first year but struggle the year after.
"Not really," Schneider said. "That's the good thing about the game ... it doesn't revolve around one player - it needs all 22 to click."
However he is not naive enough to disregard what is ahead.
"Obviously I'll get a little more attention this year but that's another challenge for me."
Proud to be a product of the NSW farming community of Osborne, near Wagga Wagga, Schneider credits his background and a quarter of football last season against fellow pocket dynamo, Brisbane's Luke Power, as helping to shape him.
"Being from the country helps," he said. "I feel I'm laidback and able to relax.
"I think at the moment I'm a little on top of what I was last year. Once I get this year going I know what's ahead of me and what to expect. I just feel more ready to go.
"I remember one game last year against Brisbane when I went back to mark Luke Power ... he's about my size and he's the same style of player as me. But to play there and know what a back man is thinking rather than at the forward line, I learnt more in that quarter than anytime else."
By Margie McDonald
March 31, 2004
ADAM SCHNEIDER should be feeling pressure that would cause most 19-year-olds to buckle but, if he is, he isn't showing it.
Schneider is hoping to make his return for the Sydney Swans from a hamstring injury against Fremantle on Sunday. He has been touted as the man to fill the void left by forward Nick Davis, who kicked four goals in less than half a game of football against premiers Brisbane last Saturday before injuring his hip-flexor muscle.
On top of that, Schneider knows he will receive closer attention from opposing players than he did last year, when he burst on to the scene to play a key role in the Swans' surprise run to a preliminary final.
But the laidback country boy is not fazed by the high expectations awaiting him.
"Last year I had nothing to lose and this year I'm just going to go out there and continue to do what I love doing," Schneider said yesterday.
The only thing keeping the goal sneak from his debut for 2004 is his right hamstring, which he injured five weeks ago in Sydney's opening Wizard Cup match against Carlton.
"It's feeling pretty good," Schneider said. "I'm going to put it through some hard training on Wednesday so that'll be the big test for it I guess. But I haven't felt it for about two weeks."
A left-foot kicker, he initially didn't realise the extent of the injury.
"I did it about half-time and I never thought I tore it," Schneider said. "It just felt tight and I played the second half with it but I got a scan after the game and it was torn."
Aside from helping to offset the loss of Nick Davis, who has been ruled out of football for a month, Schneider's return would mean Swans fans can dust off their "Schneiderman" banners.
Schneider played all 24 games last year, kicking 30 goals. Unfazed by his small frame (178cm, 78kg) Schneider beat opponents with his speed and a thumping left-foot kick, which helped earn him the AFL Rising Star nomination for his three-goal effort against Melbourne on Anzac Day.
Schneider, who turns 20 in May, doesn't believe in the "second-season syndrome" that afflicts many young players, who perform above expectations in their first year but struggle the year after.
"Not really," Schneider said. "That's the good thing about the game ... it doesn't revolve around one player - it needs all 22 to click."
However he is not naive enough to disregard what is ahead.
"Obviously I'll get a little more attention this year but that's another challenge for me."
Proud to be a product of the NSW farming community of Osborne, near Wagga Wagga, Schneider credits his background and a quarter of football last season against fellow pocket dynamo, Brisbane's Luke Power, as helping to shape him.
"Being from the country helps," he said. "I feel I'm laidback and able to relax.
"I think at the moment I'm a little on top of what I was last year. Once I get this year going I know what's ahead of me and what to expect. I just feel more ready to go.
"I remember one game last year against Brisbane when I went back to mark Luke Power ... he's about my size and he's the same style of player as me. But to play there and know what a back man is thinking rather than at the forward line, I learnt more in that quarter than anytime else."
