HAWTHORN Assistant Coach Luke Beveridge says injured defender Ryan Schoenmakers has already shown he will attack his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury with vigour as he aims to return to football in 2014.
Schoenmakers ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the second quarter of Saturday’s win over Fremantle, becoming the third Hawthorn player to do the injury this year behind Matt Suckling and Alex Woodward.
As someone who has spent a lot of time with the 22 year old and helped him develop into a promising defender, Beveridge reveals Schoenmakers is facing the challenge of spending a year out of the game same way he attacks his football – with “gusto”.
He says Schoenmakers’ resilient nature and desire to challenge himself to be the best he can only holds him in good stead as he faces on a test he never saw coming.
“He’s a really resilient character,” Beveridge told hawthornfc.com.au
“Even occasionally when he has a down day on the football field, he’s not fazed by it, he bounces back quickly because he’s up for the new challenge
“What we’ve seen so far with the injury is that he’s approaching it in the same way and I’ve got no doubt that after he has the reco, he’ll attack his rehab and his recovery with as much gusto as he has with his on ground performance from week to week.
“There’ll be no dramas there, he’s full of integrity, that’s the type of person he is. He’ll come back strong.”
The Club’s defensive coach says he has spoken with the fallen defender to provide him with some perspective.
Part of that, Beveridge says is acknowledging the improvement and ability Schoenmakers illustrated in the opening three rounds to take his game to a new level, something in which the defender has taken solace.
“I’ve spoken to him about the fact that he has taken his game to new heights and that he was in our best few players in round 1 and 2 where he hasn’t really done that before,” Beveridge said.
“He’s been really buoyant and upbeat about the fact that he has been able to do that and that’s him embracing things that are thrown at him and challenges that are put before him.
“He is in a good space because he is going out of the game at the moment a very good player, where his form and everything he’s done has been terrific.”
Amid the negativity of undergoing season-ending surgery and having to face the year-long road back, Beveridge believes there are positives to come out of what is a devastating blow to both Schoenmakers and the Club.
It now gives the defender the opportunity to further analyse the game and the forwards he will find himself pitted against when he makes his return to football next season.
“As soon as he’s back and his mind is right, we’ll probably occupy his time with a focus on opposition where he can hopefully develop his broader outlook on the game and his appreciation for what’s going on around him while he’s not playing,” Beveridge said.
“There is some opportunity there for him to mentally play the games so when he comes back he’s had that programming that he probably requires to come straight back into the game.”
