Reece Homfray @ Messenger Press wrote:Schoenmakers in the big time
Ryan Schoenmakers is tackled by Geelong's Max Rooke at the MCG last month. Picture: George SalpigtidisEVERY kid’s AFL initiation is different.
That defining moment when they realise they’re in the big time and have to grow up - fast.
Like last year’s No.1 draft pick Jack Watts.
The story goes he was told to put the boxing gloves on and fight one of his teammates when he arrived at Melbourne.
Former Tea Tree Gully player Ryan Schoenmakers, albeit to a lesser degree, got his ``welcome to AFL footy’’ about the same at Hawthorn.
But the 18-year-old, plucked from Norwood’s Reserves to join the AFL’s reigning premier with Pick No.16 in the National Draft, knew it was coming.
Schoenmakers had played most of his footy at Tea Tree Gully and the Redlegs as a forward but the Hawks wanted to develop him into a key defender.
And if you’re a defender learning to ply your trade Hawthorn, that means one thing - standing power forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead at training.
``They’re both quick off the mark,’’ Schoenmakers told the Leader Messenger last week from Melbourne.
``They’re so quick, you’ve got to be right with them or you get left behind.
``In a few drills we get to stand them, and once you’re at training and doing your role, it’s definitely on.
``From playing on the forwards at training I had an idea about what sort of things forwards don’t like.
``And blokes like Trent Croad and Stephen Gilham (key defenders) have given me plenty of tips.’’
As tough as it might have been, the time Schoenmakers spent on Franklin and Roughead at training seems to have paid off in droves.
After a solid pre-season - that he says he was well prepared for after two with Norwood - Schoenmakers made his AFL debut in Round One, which just happened to be the Grand Final re-match against Geelong.
``It was definitely a surprise,’’ he said.
``At the start of the season I was just rapt to get picked up and I didn’t know what to expect, or how many games I might play. But the aim was to definitely play.’’
Nicknamed ``Ralf’’ by his teammates, after racing car driver Ralf Schumacher, Schoenmakers played the first three games of this season before being sent to Box Hill in the VFL.
He returned to the senior side in Round 11, played three games, missed two, then came back for the past three to take his career tally to nine.
His best performance came in Round 16, which coincided with Hawthorn’s stunning return to form against Collingwood.
Schoenmakers blanketed Magpie forward Travis Cloke, got 17 touches and took five marks.
``I took a fair bit of confidence from that game,’’ he said.
``I had a big role on Cloke and knew what I had to do.
``It gave me the confidence of knowing I could play at that level and on a quality forward.’’
But in the fickle game of football, the highs can so quickly turn to lows.
The following week, Schoenmakers worked his heart out to help Hawthorn to a 28-point lead over Geelong at the MCG, only for the Hawks to throw it away and lose by one point in the final quarter. ``It wasn’t great to lose like that,’’ he said.
``We had control of the whole game and the boys were sitting around with not much to say afterwards.’’
Schoenmakers, who lives with a host family in Glen Iris, made his first official return to Adelaide on Sunday to play the Power at AAMI Stadium.
And the youngster said he couldn’t wait to play in front of his Adelaide family.
PLENTY MORE TO COME 
The Schoenmakers boys at Tea Tree Gully football training. Picture: Ian RoddieIF HAWTHORN is happy with the progress of Ryan Schoenmakers in his debut AFL season, its recruiters should keep a close eye on Pertaringa Oval for the next few years.
Schoenmakers has six first cousins (see separate photo above) playing junior footy for Tea Tree Gully this season the club that helped kick-start his promising football career.
Twins Daniel and Trent (under-16s), Chad (under-15s) and Dylan Schoenmakers (under-13s), as well as Jay (under-18s) and Bryce Liddell (under-12s) double as Ryan’s cousins and his biggest fans.
``He (Ryan) is the eldest of 10 grandchildren and they all look up to him,’’ Lisa Schoenmakers, mother of Daniel, Trent, Chad and Dylan, said.
``We all get together and watch his games, we’re very proud of him.’’
Although the boys ``idolise’’ Ryan, Lisa said there was ``no chance’’ her sons would switch from barracking for the Crows and Power to join the Hawks.
Tea Tree Gully president Darren Bugg, who coached Ryan at under-15 and 16 level, was loathe to predict whether any of the boys would follow their older cousin into the AFL.
``It’s a bit early,’’ Bugg said.
``I wouldn’t like to put that pressure on them.’’
Bugg said Ryan’s skills on both sides of his body stood out from an early age.
``At training he was always honing his skills, left and right foot,’’ he said.
``To hit a target from 30 and 40 metres at that age was pretty impressive.
``And he would always listen and pay attention at training.’’
