RYAN Schoenmakers says he has learned a lot from retiring Hawthorn defender Trent Croad, something that will hold him in good stead as he attempts to fill his role in the side this season.

The 19-year-old played 13 games for the Hawks last year mainly as a defender. Croad watched every one of those games from the sidelines as he made what turned out to be an unsuccessful return from a foot injury.

But Schoenmakers said he felt no pressure to fill the void left by Croad and instead is just concentrating on his own development.

“I’d like to play as many games as I can but I’m looking to play every game well. I don’t just want to get my name in the paper. I want to play well for the team,” Schoenmakers said.

“I’ve been pretty happy with my progress so far. It has been a solid pre-season but I’ve been able to do a lot more loads than last year.”

While he never ran out alongside Croad in a game, Schoenmakers credits the All-Australian with showing him the ropes when he arrived at the club in late 2008.

“I worked with Trent a fair bit and I considered him a bit of a mentor. Again in the early pre-season this year it was really good to have him out at training. He’s got a lot of experience in the game so it was good to work with someone like that,” he said.

Croad has given Schoenmakers advice on life as an elite footballer as well as specifics about playing as a key defender.

“Just little things that he had picked up over the years. You don’t really think about it as a young player coming in. But it really opens your eyes to how much is actually involved in the game,” he said.

“He’s spending some time with his family but I’m sure he will be back at the club pretty soon working with some of the boys.”

Schoenmakers will have another new face alongside him in the back half this year with the arrival of Josh Gibson from North Melbourne.

He says the extroverted Gibson has wasted no time settling in to his new surroundings.

“Josh is really good around the boys and has fitted in like he’s been part of the team for years. It’s great to have that kind of person around, especially in the back line,” Schoenmakers said.