By Rebecca Mills
Young GIANT Sam Schulz was left speechless when Kevin Sheedy told him he'd been selected to make his AFL debut against Richmond at SKODA Stadium.
In a dream come true, the 19 year-old from the Riverina will play his first AFL match alongside fellow debutant and number one draft pick, Jonathon Patton.
“The talent pool that we have at this club is really deep so I wasn’t confident coming in to selection this week. It was a massive shock but I’m wrapped to get a chance to play," he said.
“I’m nervous, excited and a little bit relieved. I’ll try not to get too caught up in the build up, I just want to savor it, take it all in and get my head in the game."
Over two years ago, the former Murray Bushranger opted to forgo the 2010 NAB AFL Draft and became one of the first young players to commit to the AFL's newest club.
Schulz signed up with GWS as a zone selection player from Culcairn in Southern NSW, a decision he considers one of the best he ever made.
The vibrant country boy packed his bags and moved to Western Sydney in November 2010, a year before the club would enter the AFL competition.
“It was a big decision to make but I knew that GWS was the right choice," Schulz said.
“It was tough because it was really an unknown. At that time they were still a TAC Cup side that were putting everything together.
“I played very little TAC Cup and Under 18’s football in my eighteenth year because of sickness so I’d only played local footy.
“Local footy was great fun but I probably missed out on the learning that a lot of the other guys got in that system.
“Working with Choco and Sheeds throughout last year did enormous amounts for my footy.”
Schulz moved to Western Sydney flanked by two very familiar faces, fellow NSW zone selections, Anthony Miles and Mark Whiley.
“I started playing with Milesy (Anthony Miles) when we were ten. It was in the Under 12’s state carnival. We were underage at the time and played in the Riverina team together.
“I’ve been playing with or against him for nine years now and we started playing with Horry (Mark Whiley) when we were about fifteen.
“When I was making the decision to sign, I didn’t know if he (Miles) was coming here or not. I knew that GWS had been in contact with him and he’d been playing really well.
“Deep down I probably thought that he would sign up because it was such a great opportunity.
“I signed first and straight after that I put pressure on him to put pen to paper, I think I got him over the line (laughs).”
Since their move north, the close trio has lived together in an apartment at Breakfast Point and while Schulz admits that they have their arguments, he insists that their banter is all in good fun.
“It probably gets a little bit too loud at our house times but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The only thing that doesn’t happen as often as I’d like is cleaning. I don’t want to name names but Anthony Miles is a terrible cleaner, he just doesn’t do it.
“We’ve figured out a system because the cleaning is never done. We bought a Nintendo 64 online and we play it every night to race off for cleaning duties.
“So we say, ‘the bin needs to go out; whoever loses Mario Kart needs to take it’. Otherwise it just doesn’t happen.”
The GIANT journey hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Schulz, who had a hip operation at the end of last year that put him out of action for the majority of the fledging club’s 2012 pre season campaign.
“I didn’t really get a pre season this year and it took me a while to get my fitness back and get back in to a rhythm on the field.
“The rehab was frustrating and tough at times but guys like Kurt Aylett and Josh Growden, who were in rehab long term, work that hard that anything less isn’t good enough. That helps to push and motivate you.
“I pride myself of giving it my all, I’m just going to throw myself in, never give up and see what happens.”
GWS GIANTS v Richmond
The Learn Earn Legend! Game
ŠKODA Stadium
2.10pm Saturday 16 June, 2012
Ticket Information
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