JOSHUA Schoenfeld appears to be Peel Thunder’s best chance of having a player drafted at this year’s NAB AFL Draft on November 24.
Schoenfeld is the only Thunder player and one of only seven players from Western Australia invited to the AFL draft combine that will see 80 of the best players from around the country complete four days of testing from October 8-11 at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.
The Thunder Colt’s invitation to the combine means at least five AFL clubs nominated him in a list of 50 prospects they wanted to see try out.
Schoenfeld said he was both nervous and excited ahead of the combine.
“You get to see where you sit within the best players in the country,” he said.
“There’s a lot of nerves but at the same time excitement; all the recruiters will be there.”
Schoenfeld said his greatest strength was his running ability, something he wants to show at the combine.
“The three kilometre time trial and beep test will be my strengths,” he said.
“I got 15.2 [in the beep test] earlier in the year but I’m aiming to get 16.”
At Peel Thunder Colts level the Rockingham Rams-product averaged just under 22 disposals a game this season.
It was a breakout year for Schoenfield who excelled under a new coach after managing just five games at Colts level last year.
Schoenfeld said a reason for his good form was his pre-season.
“I really wanted to improve in the off season,” he said.
“I wanted to improve my fitness and physical appearance.
“I did a lot of work and put on seven kilograms.”
That work ethic is something that has set Schoenfeld in good sted this season with the 186-centimetre wingman/midfielder selected in the WA state team.
It may have been a disappointing carnival for WA, winning just two games, but Schoenfeld was one of the best players.
“At the start of the year I just wanted to play good footy with Peel,” he said.
Schoenfeld said he was excited to be selected in the squad and even happier to play well.
He averaged 12 possessions and just under a goal a game as a wingman/half-back, playing his best football in his final two outings in Victoria.
Schoenfeld said he had always dreamt of playing AFL football with that dream now closer than ever.
The 2015 NAB AFL Draft will be held on November 24.
Players not selected will also have the opportunity to be selected in the 2015 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft and AFL Rookie Draft on November 27.
Last year Peel Thunder’s only drafted player Brad Walsh was selected in the Rookie Draft by Carlton.
Walsh played three games for Carlton this year and went on the win Carlton’s VFL best and fairest award.
