GEELONG’S Jordan Schroder already has a couple of things in common with Hawthorn midfielder Sam Mitchell.
Schroder was a joint winner of the J.J Liston Trophy for the VFL’s best and fairest despite playing just 11 matches and he is the youngest player at 20 to win the Liston since Mitchell back in 2002.
Mitchell, too, played just 11 VFL matches that season.
“I wasn’t expecting it…I didn’t want to play too many VFL games but when you’re there, you’ve just got to make the most of your opportunities and that’s what I’ve tried to do this year,” Schroder said after the Liston win.
“Hope it sends a little bit of a message (to coach Chris Scott)…Scotty’s supported me all the way through, it’s a tough side to get into with all of the stars that we’ve got to get in there.”
“It’s just a great environment down there, everyone’s happy. No one sort of sulks at their playing twos footy, everyone’s up and about and that’s probably why we’re in the running for another flag this year,” he said.
He said he held a slim chance of playing an AFL final this season after playing four AFL matches for the year.
“I think there’d have to be a few things go right, maybe a couple of injuries, which I don’t hope on anyone. Maybe I’m a slim chance,” he said.
He said his career has been “fast-tracked” by the calibre of Geelong talent around him.
“Having those guys as role models is probably what’s fast-tracked my experience at the footy club and my level that I can play at this year,” he said.
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