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Sport Nation
Find your Sport Nation frequency“Best I’ve seen”: The element of young Saint’s game that stands out
Andrew Slevison • April 20th, 2025 3:30 pm
St Kilda’s Arie Schoenmaker possesses one key weapon that could help set him apart at AFL level, according to his Tassie Devils coach Jeremy Webberley.
The second-year talent, who slide to Pick 62 in the 2023 draft, has returned to the Saints line-up for Sunday night’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Of Schoenmaker’s 47 kicks across his five outings last season, 42 were effective at 89 per cent efficiency, while 11 of his 14 kicks in Round 1 against Adelaide hit the target.
So, of the Launceston product’s 61 total AFL kicks, 53 have been effective.
Asked on SEN’s Future Stars what Schoenmaker’s best attribute is, Webberley had zero hesitation with his response regarding the half-back flanker.
“His kick,” was Webberley’s reply.
“He was the best kick in the draft in my opinion. I’ve said this to a lot of recruiters that he is the best kick I’ve ever seen.
“He’s clearly got length but he’s got the depth with his kick as well. He can get the kick there fast, he can hit the 45, he makes beautiful decisions with the ball, he can wrap it around his body as well.
“He’s got all types of kicks. I think his kick separates him and that’s his AFL one-wood, and it’s an elite one-wood.”
Schoenmaker has shown promising glimpses in his five AFL outings to date.
He picked up 18 disposals on debut against Brisbane in Round 15 last year and equalled his career-best against the Crows just a few weeks ago.
There is room for improvement, as is normally the case with youngsters, but Webberley is confident he will add the necessary tools to his game.
“You even see with some of the AFL games that he’s played that his kicking just stands out, even on the television,” Webberley added.
“He’s clearly still working through some of his contested phase which is an area of his game he’s been working on for a couple of years, and was even doing that under us (at Tassie).
“I feel like if he gets that to a compliant level then he’ll have impact in the AFL. I know he’s improved all of his athletic profile stuff as well.
“He’s making steps forward but his kick is the weapon. He’s probably the best kick I’ve ever seen.”
After amassing 29 disposals in the VFL for Sandringham against GWS last weekend, Schoenmaker is primed to return for Ross Lyon’s side in the crunch Round 6 encounter with the Doggies.
