The Examiner's Josh Partridge and Ben Hann discuss Launceston AFL draft prospect Arie Schoenmaker.
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00:00 Hello and welcome to another episode of the Pressboxes mini-series where we take a look
00:09 at individual draft profiles of the four Launceston talents likely to get picked up at next week's
00:15 AFL draft.
00:16 I'm Ben Hand, joined with me is Josh Partridge where we'll be today looking at Ari Shulmaker,
00:21 a player who's had quite a unique year, it's fair to say.
00:26 But coming at the end of it, he's participated in Fox foot, he's the longest kick and he
00:31 very might well use that absolute barrel of a left foot to make a team, take that next
00:37 step in the AFL.
00:39 So Josh, take me through the year that Ari's had because it certainly has been one filled
00:44 with plenty of trials.
00:46 So Ari was given a 10 week internal suspension from the Tasmania Devils, originally reported
00:51 as personal reasons but it was later revealed that Ari had an alcohol indiscretion which
00:57 involved some of the younger teammates within the squad.
01:00 I think the way I've heard him described it is he wasn't doing the right things as what
01:04 a leader should be doing and that's pretty true.
01:07 So he had to go back and really ply his trade with Launceston in the TSL and had the Lonnie
01:12 boys get around him pretty strong and really showed what he can do against senior men as
01:16 well which has really helped his draft case before coming back into the Devils.
01:20 And then eventually the Allies, so he's really come from the bottom after a really strong
01:25 year last year.
01:26 So he's really shown everyone really what he can do with his kicking ability.
01:31 As you said, it's first rate.
01:33 His big raking long left foot that he's regularly reached the centre of Windsor Park with some
01:39 of his kick-ins.
01:40 And he actually also makes some really good decisions with his foot as well.
01:45 He surveys the field and goes "Ok, well if I can't go there I can go there" or something
01:51 like that.
01:52 So he's really good with that as well.
01:53 Yeah, he might not have the medals that some of these other boys have but I tell you what,
01:58 there's a vision of him at Curio in Bendigo, absolutely launching one for 70 metres.
02:05 Please go and have a look at it.
02:06 It's in the preliminary final against Easton Rangers.
02:08 One of the biggest kicks you will ever likely see and it made me very excited to see where
02:14 he might go, hopefully to my team.
02:17 But that brings us onto our first segment of this episode which is what's a player that
02:23 reminds you of him in the AFL currently or former?
02:27 I think we've gone for the same player.
02:29 So this is one, when I spoke to Ari earlier in the year he said "Oh, don't say this one,
02:34 don't say this one, but we're going to say this one."
02:37 It's James Sisley.
02:39 Very similar to Ari in that he's a pretty big body that uses his body in the way to
02:44 defend and that's how he really defends strongly and then also just has a really big raking
02:50 kick that can find teammates whenever necessary.
02:53 So it's pretty straightforward I think.
02:55 Yeah, and that sort of "don't take rubbish" attitude about him I think will really stand
03:00 him in good stead because he's going to be playing against some really big players, some
03:04 big AGOs to be quite honest, playing in that role that he will play.
03:07 So it will really help him out there I think.
03:10 And that takes us onto our second segment where we stake our reputations on where he
03:14 might go in the draft and who he'll go to and why.
03:18 So we'll start off with you Josh.
03:21 This one is also a bit of a tough one to gauge, especially when you go on that section that's
03:25 late first round, early second round, which I think we both have him, where do you think
03:30 he might go?
03:31 Yeah, I've got him actually going with the first pick of the second night of the draft
03:34 in the second round, which as you said, you wanted him at West Coast, well I've given
03:38 you him at West Coast.
03:40 So funnily enough, I have one of my articles actually retweeted by a West Coast fan group
03:45 about a couple of months ago and they were really excited about what he could potentially
03:49 bring to the table, especially with the likes of Shannon Hearn now moving on.
03:53 So I think it would be really interesting to see him wind up there.
03:56 Otherwise, after that, Gold Coast have really got four or five selections just after that
04:02 pick, which to be honest, it might be used to get Jed Walter to Gold Coast if someone
04:06 else bids on him, but I think that could be a really nice spot for him as well, playing
04:12 in defence with the likes of Sam Collins and things like that at Gold Coast.
04:15 I think that could really work well.
04:17 Where have you got him?
04:18 Well the fact of the matter is, key players don't grow on trees and I think it makes him
04:23 so valuable.
04:24 I actually have him one of two selections.
04:27 I think Collingwood might take a chance and pick him up at pick 19.
04:29 I don't think they have anything to lose.
04:32 They've got a somewhat older defence.
04:34 Darcy Moore doesn't get on the track for every game.
04:38 Jeremy Howell also hasn't.
04:39 So they've really had those stocks tested in recent years and I think they could definitely
04:44 take a chance on him.
04:46 The other one I have is also at West Coast.
04:47 It might have been a little bit of bias on my behalf at pick 23, but the same reasons.
04:52 Tom Baras and Jeremy Galvin have proven a lot that they won't be on the track for every
04:57 game of the next year and in the coming years, especially as they get older.
05:00 I think Ari Shumaker will be the great next player to come along in that line, but also
05:07 they'd be great mentors for him to come through and really make sure he gets the most out
05:11 of his potential.
05:12 That's all for this episode of the Press Box's mini-series about the draft.
05:17 See you for the next one.
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