Former SANFL star John Schneebichler passes away after lengthy cancer battle
The football community is mourning the loss of South Adelaide and Glenelg legend John Schneebichler, who lost his almost three-year battle with cancer on Monday. His family has paid tribute to his “courage, determination and positivity”.
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Former South Adelaide and Glenelg star John Schneebichler has died, aged 62.
The high-flying key forward passed away on Monday morning after nearly a three-year battle with cancer.
A SANFL player life member, Schneebichler played 234 games and kicked 351 goals for the Panthers from 1975-87 and 25 games, booting 26 goals, for the Tigers in 1988.
Nicknamed “Sneezer’’, he also represented South Australia five times and played in two losing SANFL grand finals – for South in 1979 and Glenelg in 1988.
Schneebichler captained the Panthers from 1985-87 and was the club’s leading goalkicker in 1983 with 65.
Capable of playing at either end of the ground but used primarily in attack, he was inducted into South’s Hall of Fame last year.
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After retiring from the SANFL as a player, Schneebichler became football manager at the Bay before becoming a long-time football director at Adelaide Footy League division one club Brighton, where he also coached.
Former Bombers president Kym Steer had described him as the club’s “heart and soul’’.
South chief executive Neill Sharpe said Schneebichler was “a key figure in South Adelaide’s forward line over a long period of time’’.
“He didn’t always play in great teams, but he always stood tall and was very highly regarded,’’ Sharpe said.
“His passing is a very sad day and as a club we are grateful we had the opportunity to induct him into our Hall of Fame last year.
“He will be missed by a lot of people.’’
New Glenelg president and club great Peter Carey, who played with and against Schneebichler, described him as “a great opponent and teammate’’.
“He played some terrific football over a long period of time and when he stopped playing he stayed on at Glenelg in an off-field capacity,’’ Carey said.
“He made a lot of great friends at the club and will be sorely missed around the Glenelg area.’’
Schneebichler’s brother-in-law Brenton Honor, a former Panthers teammate and Glenelg coach, said his courageous, selfless battle with cancer had been an inspiration to his family and friends.
“We have all been blown away by his courage, determination and positivity,’’ Honor said.
“He kept battling on against the odds and never complained, just kept thinking of others.
“We are in awe of him.’’
Schneebichler is survived by his wife Jenny, son Leigh, daughter-in-law Janna and grandson Ari.