Proud moment for Eagles great Peter Schwarz to watch son Tom play in SANFL final
THERE’S definitely something stirring in the Eagle’s nest. Woodville-West Torrens great reflects on a poignant moment as his son Tom prepares to play in Sunday’s SANFL grand final.
IT HAS been 22 years but the photo still takes pride of place in the Schwarz living room.
“For me, it’s a special photo because of what it represents,’’ Peter Schwarz says of a picture taken of him with his family, by former Advertiser photographer Ray Titus the morning after the 1993 SANFL grand final.
“What I loved about it was it shows how much of a part the family and the extended family are, and the commitment they make towards your footy career and your success.
“To have my wife and two boys at the time be part of that photo just showed that it’s not just about what you do as a player out there, it’s about the family and friends who allow you to do it.”
The previous day, Schwarz had cemented his name in history as the first premiership captain of the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club, which was in its third season following the merger of Woodville and West Torrens in 1991.
Inside the Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy he sat his new born son Tom, who will on Sunday aim to join Schwarz as an Eagles premiership player when the club clashes with West Adelaide in the decider at Adelaide Oval.
Tom is now 22, and will play a crucial role in the Eagles midfield which is missing stars Angus Powell and Angus Rowntree, who both suffered knee injuries in the second semi final.
Schwarz Sr also remains an integral part of the club.
He’s its chief executive and admits he’ll be nervous and proud when his son runs out in a grand final.
“When you have kids all you really want is for them to grow up and be the best they can be and to turn out as good kids,’’ he says.
“The fact that Tom plays league footy is a real bonus but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all.
“As a parent you’re just happy they’re giving it a crack.”
Schwarz and wife Katia have three other children: Nic, 24, James, 20, and Hannah, 18.
Nic is also a league footballer at South Adelaide and enjoyed a breakout 2015 season.
Schwarz played his 250th league game in 1993, when Bruce Winter coached the club to a 73-point grand final thumping of Norwood at Football Park.
Less than three years earlier, more than 100 players came together under inaugural coach Neil Balme.
The former Woodville player said there was a sense of excitement but also uncertainty, following the merger.
“There was always an expectation that we were going to have a pretty good side and you would expect that given you had two clubs come together,’’ he said.
“But what was great was that it came together as well, and as quickly, as it did,’’ he said.
“I don’t think we could have got a better bloke than Balmey to bring the two groups together …
“Bruce Winter was reserves coach and he was able to come in and continue that methodology and structure, and did a great job.”
The Eagles have been a powerhouse since those formative seasons.
They are aiming for their fourth premiership in their ninth grand final in 25 seasons.