With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
While Ryan Schoenmakers might ultimately be disappointed he didn’t play in this year’s premiership after also missing out last year due to the injury, he must see the positives in his 2014 campaign.
Returning from a knee reconstruction is a hard task, particularly when you’re a bigger player.
When you look at the facts, while he didn’t get a premiership medal, Schoenmakers took a big step forward in his return to footy by playing 15 senior games and showing he can play at both ends of the ground.
He made his comeback in April via the VFL where he played four matches before finally making his AFL return in Round 7 when with full confidence in his match fitness, body and movement.
His return was stunning - booting four goals in a half against the Saints before being forced into defence due to an injury to Brian Lake. He had 15 disposals in that game, took six marks and even laid three tackles to be one of Hawthorn’s best in the big win.
With Lake out for an extended period, Schoenmakers was forced to play full back and in Round 10 he played his best game for the year in the position against the Power.
Matched on then-Coleman Medal leader Jay Schulz, Schoenmakers restricted the Power forward to just six disposals and a goal. Schulz also failed to take a mark in that game.
His performance drew praise from defensive coach Luke Beveridge who at the time said he wasn’t surprised by the 23 year old’s level in his return.
“I’ve really liked his defensive game, he’s been quite exceptional with some of the things he’s done,” Beveridge told hawthornfc.com.au
“Just before he did his knee, he was starting to establish himself as very good key defender and it’s a great credit to him to be able to come back into the game and defend really well straight away.
“I’ve been happy but not surprised.”
Schoenmakers was forced forward once Lake made his return in Round 14 though, and despite kicking two goals from 18 disposals and six marks against Collingwood in another impressive performance, his form dropped from there.
He was in the side until as late as Round 21 before being dropped by Alastair Clarkson in Round 22 then earning a reprieve in Round 23.
But his performance in that game against the Pies wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the team for the finals.
While he would have been disappointed to miss out on the chance at a premiership, Schoenmakers should take the positives from the season and carry those and improve on them in 2015.
He has chosen to stay and fight for a spot in Hawthorn’s best 22 next season despite the acquisition of defender James Frawley, which speaks volumes of the confidence he has in himself that he can cement a place in the premiership team.
What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “‘Schoey’ did a good job coming back from a knee reconstruction, which is not easy especially if you’re a bigger player because you’ve got to get confidence back in your movement.
“I think we saw that from him at times this year and he probably didn’t quite get back to the form he was showing before the injury.
“He’s be better for the year though and with another pre-season under his belt will get more confidence in his body and we expect him to be able to make a really good contribution for us either back or forward next year.
“He had some good moments this year but his form just wasn’t consistent enough to get him into the team for the finals series, which would have been disappointing for him because he played in that losing Grand Final in 2012. This will motivate him in 2015.”
Ryan Schoenmakers in the news in 2014
- Schoenmakers happy to stay
- Hawks not surprised by Schoey’s form in comeback season
- Schoenmakers ‘buzzing’ after return
- Schoenmakers completes the long road back
Videos featuring Ryan Schoenmakers in 2014
- Schoenmakers speaks after his return
- #everymoment: Schoenmakers
Captain Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli celebrate Ryan Schoenmakers's first goal in his comeback game against the Saints.
