Schulz prepares for new defensive challenge

[Heisenberg_]

Schulz prepares for new defensive challenge
4:43:22 PM Thu 27 January, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal
It hasn't taken long over the pre-season for Richmond's Jay Schulz to understand just what lies ahead for him in 2005 as he prepares to take on the challenging role of being the Tigers' new centre-half-back.

The 19-year-old, the Tigers' first draft pick in 2002, is approaching his third AFL season and in his 21 games to date has mainly been used in the forward line or off the bench.


But new coach Terry Wallace has already told the 193cm, 94kg South Australian that he will be the Tigers' first choice in the troublesome centre-half-back position in 2005, a position that last year proved such a problem that Joel Bowden - better known as a midfielder - was forced to play there for most of the season.

And if Schulz did not realise what a challenge his new role would be, he has soon found out during the pre-season where he has been continually opposed to the Tigers' champion forward Matthew Richardson in the club's competitive drills.

It will be a forerunner to what he knows will be a challenging season playing on the likes of Port's Warren Tredrea, Brisbane's Jonathan Brown and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt.

"Most of my training has been based playing on 'Richo', which is good because he is one of the best," Schulz told Sportal.

"It's been pretty tough; he is a big man but it's been great (preparation) because there are not many quicker than him and he is one of the biggest centre-half-forwards in the competition."

Schulz said he was surprised when Wallace told him of the move to the backline but is looking forward to it.

And if he knows that with the Tigers' shortage of key defenders it is a big opportunity.

"I'm sure I am not going to win as many as I lose but it will be a massive learning curve," he said.

"That's what Terry has said to me as well but he told me if you can take something from it and give something to the team each week then you will be doing your role."

"It's a big opportunity for me, it's not one I thought I would have, but I am going to take it and try to make as much of it as I can."

Schulz said the Tigers could hardly wait for the season to begin after a big pre-season under new coach Wallace, following last year's wooden spoon finish.

"It's been pretty tough my first two years, we haven't won a lot of games and that gets to you after a while," he said.

"But it's a clean slate for everyone now, we have got a new coach, new assistant coaches and there are some exciting times to look forward to."

 

[rota69]

schulz as fullback is he ready yet

 

[Hammerfire]

Schultz @ FB = No

Its CHB.

And i tend to think his not ready, but hopefully his a quick learner.

 

[IDGAF]

Schulz prepares for new defensive challenge
4:43:22 PM Thu 27 January, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal

"I'm sure I am not going to win as many as I lose
."

Nothing like a bit of confidence Schultzy

 

[evo]

From what I've seen at training,he's going have to pull his finger out in a big way if he thinks he's playing CHB anytime soon.

 

[mellowyellow]

6 months ago Wallace was asked what he thought of shulz in an interview on 3aw.

Cant recall the exact quotes, but in effect thought he wasn't up to the AFL standards required to be a good footballer and was unsure as to whether he could be developed into a KPP, longterm.

Well whats changed? Apart from a great game against brisbane and a couple of good marks for the highlight reels, he has done little to cement a role in any position.

In the couple of games when he was played in the backline he looked lost,slow in reading the play, and was terrible at ground level, although he kicking is okay.

Certainly didnt feel me with hope that he'd be able to hold down a postion at CHB, and infact he looks far more suited to a forward role, based on the games he's played with us thus far.

Granted, his only played a handful of games and times on his side to cut it longterm but Im yet to be convinved he could be moulded into holding down CHB at such an early stage in his development but i hope the coaching staff,and himself can convince me otherwise.

 

[Hammerfire]

I believe at the time Wallace thought Schultz was a lot older.

 

[IDGAF]

I do like Wallaces tactics with him though , he is basically saying to him show us what you have got boy or you will be out the door , throwing down the gauntlet , if you will , shape up or ship out .

Ball is squarely in Schultz`s court ....... there is a saying in management " Give them enough rope " he will either grab hold of it or he will hang himself

Any more cliches ?

 

[beaver's army]

i think shultz could do very well there if he has the pace to go with them

 

[Bentleigh]

I dont think the kid has what it takes.

Love for him to prove me wrong.

 

[IDGAF]

I dont think the kid has what it takes.

Love for him to prove me wrong.

Once again ..... we are in accordance

I just get the feeling he has neither the brains nor the drive for it ...... will happily eat my words though

 

[mellowyellow]

I dont think the kid has what it takes.

As a key backman or at all?

 

[Bentleigh]

As a key backman or at all?

Key Backman.

You'd hope if he is not the long term option for CHB he is still good enough to make the 22.

KPP is a real worry.

 

[Darth_Tiger]

in the games he has played i have liked the little things he has done that tend to go unnoticed. give him time. if chb doesnt work then he can be tried up forward. he was a 1st round draft pick and is still only 19. at this stage glimpses is all you usually have seen. at such a young age, anyone who can kick 6 goals against mal michael has some talent.

 

[sante]

I reckon Schulzy can do it, but if he cannot well there is up forward for him

 

[GoTeam2-0-0-4]

Regardless of whether he can make it as a KPP or not, Schulzy must be played up forward. He almost single-handedly took apart the brisbane defence- something that even the greatest champion forwards have tried to do and failed!! You can't judge a player on one game alone, but in that game he showed, at least, that the talent was there to be a handy forward. I can't imagine why anyone would want to deny him the chance to become a great forward prospect.

Also, if it ain't broken, don't fix it!! Our best and fairest this yr was playing CHB and I just don't see the need for any changes to be made to a position which we already cover fairly well. We don't have a true full forward and with the leap on Schulzy, surely he'd give it a fair crack. Anyway that just my opinion.

 

[Bentleigh]

Regardless of whether he can make it as a KPP or not, Schulzy must be played up forward. He almost single-handedly took apart the brisbane defence- something that even the greatest champion forwards have tried to do and failed!! You can't judge a player on one game alone, but in that game he showed, at least, that the talent was there to be a handy forward. I can't imagine why anyone would want to deny him the chance to become a great forward prospect.

Also, if it ain't broken, don't fix it!! Our best and fairest this yr was playing CHB and I just don't see the need for any changes to be made to a position which we already cover fairly well. We don't have a true full forward and with the leap on Schulzy, surely he'd give it a fair crack. Anyway that just my opinion.

Well said.

 

[IDGAF]

Regardless of whether he can make it as a KPP or not, Schulzy must be played up forward. He almost single-handedly took apart the brisbane defence- something that even the greatest champion forwards have tried to do and failed!! You can't judge a player on one game alone, but in that game he showed, at least, that the talent was there to be a handy forward. I can't imagine why anyone would want to deny him the chance to become a great forward prospect.

Also, if it ain't broken, don't fix it!! Our best and fairest this yr was playing CHB and I just don't see the need for any changes to be made to a position which we already cover fairly well. We don't have a true full forward and with the leap on Schulzy, surely he'd give it a fair crack. Anyway that just my opinion.

That`s a crock buddy .

JB was and is only ever going to be a stop gap CHB . Other than Gasper , we have struggled hard core for over a decade to cover the Key positions down back .

And please , please , please , please don`t fall for the chronic Punt rd. 3 card trick of wrapping a bloke up as the next Royce Hart on the basis of one performance . After 20 years of this kind of mind - set , surely we would have learnt our lessons buy now . Did you ever stop and think maybe Mal Michael had an off night ?

Jay Schultz has obvious ability but has a long way to go and TW knows it , that is why he laying down the challenge .

 

[Darth_Tiger]

it is always a good idea to have a defender capable of going forward and turning a game. leigh matthews did it with justin leppitsch, and how many times has he gone forward and swung a match with a few goals and a good contest up forward.

 

[cairo tiger]

whose coaching here you guys or w? tw will use the guy out of hogans heros in any way he wants or he is out the dooor

 

[Crumden]

Also, if it ain't broken, don't fix it!! Our best and fairest this yr was playing CHB and I just don't see the need for any changes to be made to a position which we already cover fairly well. We don't have a true full forward and with the leap on Schulzy, surely he'd give it a fair crack. Anyway that just my opinion.

It doesn't get much more broken than our 2004 season!!

Playing in the backline will suit Schulz. He can run straight at the ball and doesn't mind making his presence felt with a bit of body work, something we need a bit more of up back. He is also ok in the air, though needs to learn when to go for the speccy and when to play safe. The only time he really looked the goods in the forward line was when he started deep in the goalsquare and could run out on a lead, as he did against Brisbane.

 

[madtiger2005]

any 19 year old who can kick 6 goals against brisbane must be talented. He's only 19 years old people, wake up

 

[Bentleigh]

It doesn't get much more broken than our 2004 season!!

Team was sh1te, Bowden, at CHB was brillant.

any 19 year old who can kick 6 goals against brisbane must be talented. He's only 19 years old people, wake up

Itd be a better indicator if we rated him from all his games, not just the 1 good one. But I agree. He is not yet 20, plenty of time on his hands.

 

[Infamy]

Not really, you look at a kids scope for improvement, not his overall contribution
He's shown that he can play, its just a matter of developing consistency, especially as a kpp
He's still going to be 19 at Round 1 this year so he should have another 3-4 years before we really see what kind of player he will be

 

[Darth_Tiger]

i agree. at his age the indicators of what he is capable of come from the occassional game not the whole picture. his 6 goal haul against the lions is very promising. it would be less so if we had a very strong forward line and were playing a bottom 4 team with key defenders injured, however he was against arguably the best full back in the business against the best team in the business. i for one think that is a promising kid.