Parents proud of Launceston draftee’s response to ban

Arie Schoenmaker was forced to sweat it out longer than expected to realise his draft dream. But his parents are proud of how he’s handled a pre-season indiscretion and subsequent ban which nearly cost him. Watch the video here.

St Kilda believes Arie Schoenmaker’s 10-week ban for drinking on a pre-season camp should not define the superboot after securing the slider of the draft with the third last selection.

Fox Footy cameras were at Schoenmaker’s house in Launceston and the defender was outside hugging his mum, thinking he was set to miss out, moments before the Saints called his name at No. 62.

North Melbourne recruiter Scott Clayton said Schoenmaker was the “best kick in the world – a beautiful left foot that goes forever” and several clubs think he could one day punt in the NFL.

But it looked like that off-field indiscretion was set to see Schoenmaker punted from the AFL draft until the Saints said yes.

“He’s had some adversity in terms of early on in the year. He had to go back and find some form and prove himself again,” list boss Stephen Silvagni said.

“That’s a good sign. He’s a young boy – he’s 18 years of age. We’re giving him a chance and hopefully he takes that chance because he’s got some talent.”

Arie Schoenmaker playing for Tasmania Devils in September. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Speaking to the live coverage, Schoenmaker admitted he was getting very nervous.

“I was just out there having a bit of a hug with my mum, just about done then, I’m just really thankful,” he said.

“Emotions are pretty high, I didn’t know how to really feel. All the boys got pretty rowdy.

“To get the moment, I’m really excited.”

Schoenmaker watched the first night of the draft on Monday with family and friends at the Launceston Blues clubrooms, uncertain whether he would be picked.

“I’ll just keep my head high. It’ll be a long 24 hours, but the other boys (fellow Tasmanians Colby McKercher, James Leake and Ryley Sanders) got drafted, which was the most important thing,” he said.

No one was concerned in the Windsor Park rooms. The overriding sentiment was he’d be picked up early on night two.

That didn’t transpire, but his parents Alisha and Danny spoke of how proud they were of the positive response their son had made to his transgression.

“I’ve been asked this question a couple of times the last few months, and it could have gone either way, for any child that got given that result (long suspension) after the incident,” Alisha said.

“I think his resilience has shone through and I think it’s actually made him a better human being. To see him come through that has made me very proud.”

TSL. Arie Schoenmaker in action for Launceston against Clarence in the TSL. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Danny said his raking left boot which earned him a call-up to Fox Footy’s Longest Kick competition before this year’s grand final was evident from a very early age.

“We had a small house we renovated in Launceston with a tiny backyard. At two-and-a-half he started booting soccer balls and footballs clean out of the property.

“I said to Alisha we’ve got to get out of here, and we went and bought 20 acres at Nicholson Road,” he said.

“Ryley, Colby and Leakey, these boys I coached and grew up with kicking the frost off the grass out here at Windsor.

“It’s amazing to see where they’ve come at that young age to where they are now. Regardless of the result tonight, I couldn’t be prouder of Arie and his commitment to (atoning for) his setback.”