PEEL Thunder’s Joshua Schoenfeld’s AFL dream has become a reality with the 18-year-old drafted by the Gold Coast Suns on Tuesday night.
Schoenfeld was taken with selection 34 in the NAB AFL Draft and will fly out today to meet his Suns teammates.
“I was pretty stunned,” Schoenfeld said upon hearing his name called.
“To be taken so early; I knew the Suns were interested but not that interested.
Shoenfeld watched the draft at home with his parents and close friends.
“My mum reacted straight away; just joy, she got emotional straight away,” he said.
“It’s bloody exciting.”
The 187-centimetre wingman’s aerobic ability and work ethic will have him well suited to the AFL where he will now get to build on his skills alongside one of the games greats in Gary Ablett junior.
“Playing with Ablett, [Micheal] Rischitelli, [Nick] Malceski; it’s a great opportunity to learn off them; I can’t wait,” he said.
After playing just a handful of Colts games with Peel Thunder in 2014 the Rockingham Rams junior went away in the off season where he improved his fitness and added seven kilograms to his frame.
The hard work paid off with Schoenfeld not only a regular in the Peel Thunder line up this year but also impressed so much that he was selected in the Western Australian state under 18s team.
It was a solid carnival for Schoenfeld but it was his AFL Combine results that propelled him in the AFL recruiters’ eyes.
At the combine he broke the all time three kilometre time trial record set last year by three seconds in a time of 9.15 minutes and set the second best beep test time in combine history with a 16.2.
“I originally just wanted to get a regular game at Peel and to now be drafted,” he said.
“I can’t wait to get over there and get my guernsey.
“I’m goig to take it one day at a time and get as fit and strong as I can and have a good crack at it next year”
Subiaco’s Shane Yarran, who played for South Mandurah in 2013, was drafted by the Fremantle Docker with selection 61.
Yarran, 26 years old, backed up his 39 goals from 20 games in his first season of WAFL football last year with 54 goals from 19 games in 2015.
Yarran began his senior football career late after spending six years in jail.
The NAB AFL Rookie and Pre-season Draft will be held on November 27 where players not selected will have another chance to be selected.
