BARELLAN’S decision to sign former AFL star Adam Schneider for a one-off appearance this season is another step in the club’s long-term rebuild, according to coach Will Overs.
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The former St Kilda and Sydney Swans forward will don a Two Blues jumper for Barellan’s first home game – in round two against North Wagga on April 16.
Overs says Schneider’s guest appearance will help on and off the field.
“It’s exciting,” Overs said.
“It’s something to look forward to and to show our younger players someone who played at the elite level – how they prepare and how they go about their business.
“It’ll be an eye opener for our players.”
The 2005 premiership player retired from the AFL last year after 98 games for Sydney and 130 with St Kilda.
Barellan made contact after hearing Schneider was interested in guest appearancesin the country before he plays out the season with Victorian Amateur Football Association club Beaumaris.
Schneider will spend the weekend at Barellan, hosting an Auskick event for juniors on Friday night and a club function following the game against North Wagga.
After winning just one game in their return to the Farrer League last year, Barellan have found life tough in the off-season, failing to land any new recruits.
“Our biggest challenge is because we’re so far away we need to be paying top-end dollar,” Overs said.
The coach says there are no shortcuts to building a successful club and Schneider will help raise money as well as their profile.
“He knows the position we’re in and we’re stoked to have him on board.”
Schneider kicked 259 goals in his 13-year career but may find himself in the midfield at Barellan Sportsground if he isn’t getting enough opportunities against North Wagga.
“He’s that classy up forward he’d take a fair bit of handling,” Overs said.
“We’ll see how his body is travelling – he said it’s going quite well – and we might use him through the middle and up forward.”
Overs says the atmosphere at the club remains upbeat despite a disheartening recruitment campaign.
He believes there’s plenty of improvement to come from his players.
“That defensive running – it’s far from where we’d expect it to be with the speed of the football in the Farrer League,” he said.
“Our reaction time from offence to defence, to be able to react quicker and be fitter to chase them down, that’s where our improvement can come from.”
