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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.
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.
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