Schwarz to help Bulldogs

[The Coon Dog]

Schwarz to help Bulldogs


Mark Robinson | February 13, 2008 12:00am

RADIO and TV commentator David Schwarz has joined the Western Bulldogs as a forwards coach.

The former Melbourne star, who had three knee reconstructions before overcoming a highly publicised gambling addiction, will join Bulldogs assistant Wayne Campbell and coach Rodney Eade next week.

The part-time role is the first time Schwarz, Melbourne's 1999 best-and-fairest winner, will be involved at an AFL club since leaving the Demons in mid-2002.

Beset by injury and loss of mobility, Schwarz confided in then coach Neale Daniher that he was thinking of retiring. Daniher told him: "It's not a bad idea."

Schwarz had offered his services to Melbourne in recent years, but an arrangement could not be reached.

He said yesterday he was excited about returning to club level and felt he was ready for the challenge.

"I always said I wouldn't be able to look after any players until I looked after myself," Schwarz said.

"I'm comfortable now and it's time to try to help out other people. I'm not getting paid. It's not about the money.

"I like 'Rocket', I love what he's trying to do down there and I just want to help."

Schwarz said the role would aid his knowledge of the modern game, although he believed forward structures and game-day plans had not changed significantly since his retirement.

"I'm not the norm in forward thinking," Schwarz said. "I look at basketball, which is played in a confined space, and you have to work to create space and movement.

"And with the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome, you need to do that -- be inventive in creating space.

"The Bulldogs' forward line has plenty of potential."

Schwarz will work closely with key forwards, such as Will Minson, and the resting ruckmen, recruit Scott Welsh, Brad Johnson, the promising Tom Williams, Cameron Wight and Robert Murphy.

"I can relate to 'Murph' more than most. He had a reco, he's been near the top of his club and fallen over with injury and he knows what it's like to get back," Schwarz said.

Eade said yesterday Schwarz was an ideal teacher.

[LostDoggy]

I'm not sure about this one, I hope he teaches better than his radio/tv persona.

[GVGjr]

I'm not sure about this one, I hope he teaches better than his radio/tv persona.

He would just be providing assistance to Wayne Campbell anyway. It's not a bad appointment IMO and it appears to be done for the right reasons. If the forward line doesn't function then he is right in the firing line with the talk back section on SEN.

[LostDoggy]

Schwarz is a lot more astute than people give him credit for. I think this will turn out to be a fantastic opportunity for us and credit to Schwarz for doing it gratis

[GVGjr]

I'm not sure about this one, I hope he teaches better than his radio/tv persona.

I should add that Barnes hasn't got a great rep in the media but seems serious enough on the traning track

[LostDoggy]

Schwarz to help Bulldogs


Mark Robinson | February 13, 2008 12:00am

RADIO and TV commentator David Schwarz has joined the Western Bulldogs as a forwards coach.

"I'm not the norm in forward thinking," Schwarz said. "I look at basketball, which is played in a confined space, and you have to work to create space and movement.

"And with the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome, you need to do that -- be inventive in creating space.
"The Bulldogs' forward line has plenty of potential."

Schwarz will work closely with key forwards, such as Will Minson, and the resting ruckmen, recruit Scott Welsh, Brad Johnson, the promising Tom Williams, Cameron Wight and Robert Murphy.

"I can relate to 'Murph' more than most. He had a reco, he's been near the top of his club and fallen over with injury and he knows what it's like to get back," Schwarz said.

Eade said yesterday Schwarz was an ideal teacher.

I have also thought his "special comments" work during games is pretty average.
I was quite surprised by his comments in the bolded areas above, maybe he's not as useless as some of us think.

[hujsh]

I have also thought his "special comments" work during games is pretty average.
I was quite surprised by his comments in the bolded areas above, maybe he's not as useless as some of us think.

Sounds like he's got a few ideas. Worth a try just like SOS was

[Go_Dogs]

I like some of the concepts he has already talked about. We should really be doing everything we can to really transform TD into a ground where we can dominate and out structure any opposition.

[LostDoggy]

Very good player in his day. Im sure he could add something

[Bulldog Revolution]

Part of me is with Ernie on this one - unsure

The important thing for me is that the coaching staff work cohesively in 2008, so whatever Schwarz adds has to be in line with the vision of the line coach Campbell and head coach Eade.

[hujsh]

At least we aren't paying him so if it doesn't work out he can just go home

[FrediKanoute]

At least we aren't paying him so if it doesn't work out he can just go home

I think its a good move. Pre-knee Schwartz was one of the pre-iminent forwards. as good as Neitz, if not better because he was a natural forward. To me it seems as though he is being lined up as a ready made replacement for one of the assistant coaches should they not perform.

[bornadog]

Very good player in his day. Im sure he could add something

At least he played in the forward line, in a KPP role.

[Rocket Science]

As if it wasn't bad enough tolerating Campbell on the payroll, we had to go and grab this simpleton as his 2IC...Kudos I suppose to whetever he's done to turn his personal life around but this move doesn't inspire confidence at all...There wasn't a sharper footy mind worth looking at?

Ahh well, yet another reason to sit with gritted teeth though his insightful cameos on Friday nights on Ch 7.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I think its a good move. Pre-knee Schwartz was one of the pre-iminent forwards. as good as Neitz, if not better because he was a natural forward. To me it seems as though he is being lined up as a ready made replacement for one of the assistant coaches should they not perform.

I see it as more a good audition for Schwartz as an assistant coach, rather than lining him up as a replacement. In an ideal world our coaching staff would probably be more settled over the next 2 years