VAFA: Hawthorn premiership player Ryan Schoenmakers signs with Old Xaverians
Another day, another former AFL player joins the ranks of the unpaid, with Hawthorn premiership player Ryan Schoenmakers the latest top grader to sign with a VAFA club for 2020.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The stream of former AFL players into VAFA ranks has turned into a flood.
Long-time power Old Xaverians is the latest club to lure a high-profile former league man, today confirming it had gained Hawthorn stalwart and premiership player Ryan Schoenmakers.
It came in the same week as Premier rival Caulfield Grammarians put away ex-GWS and Hawthorn midfielder Jonathan O’Rourke, and Premier B outfit De La Salle clinched former Magpie and Eagle Josh Smith and ex-Demon Jordie McKenzie.
Tom Boyd and Patrick Kerr (St Kevin’s), David Armitage and David Mirra (Collegians), Sam Dunell (Old Melburnians), Matt Dea (Uni Blacks) and Jay Kennedy-Harris (Uni Blues) had previously pitched their tents in amateur territory, enticed by employment as they look to advance their careers after finishing with big football.
Beset by calf injuries, versatile tall Schoenmakers retired at the end of the 2019 season after managing a handful of games in the VFL.
The 29-year-old played 121 AFL matches in 11 seasons with the Hawks, figuring in the 2015 premiership team.
He had been drafted from the SANFL and made his debut in 2009.
Old Xavs finished second after the home-and-away rounds this year, but lost both finals.
They have since replaced coach Paul Satterley with former AFL and VFL player James Byrne.
He takes charge of a side that produced four players for the VAFA Premier team of the year: Matt Handley, Cauley Beetham, and former AFL pair Rohan Bewick and Jason Holmes.
Old Melburnians were also keen on Schoenmakers, but can be content with their signings of Sam Dunell and Shaun Edwards.