Player Column – Haiden Schloithe Round 5

OBVIOUSLY we couldn’t ask for a better start to the season to be 4-0. We’ve played pretty well in the four games but we did start 3-0 last year.

So it was really important that we came out on Saturday and performed really well against Perth just so we didn’t have the same things happen that did last year. We’ve now started 4-0 but we all know it means nothing if we don’t come out and play well again this weekend.

Our structure all over the ground has been really impressive so far this year. Pullman going down back has been a really good move and he’s looked real solid, and Blayno is back to his best but it’s not just those two. Everyone else down back is probably playing career-best footy. And then having Mase coming back is massive up forward for Saundo because it takes some pressure off him. It was great to see Mase get the rewards on Saturday.

And the midfield is obviously playing really well. Hocks coming over from the VFL has added something different and he has fitted in really well, and everyone seems to be on the same page which is really good to see. And then it’s good to see the ressies playing well with plenty of guys who could take a league spot but right now everyone is playing well.

It’s also been a bit of a change in terms of myself and Cooky playing across half-forward and not spending as much time in the midfield because of the way the other guys are performing. We are just happy to play wherever the coaches want us and it doesn’t really worry me. I’ve played a bit forward during my life and it does come naturally to me. If Curls wants me to go back into the midfield later in the year, I’ll be happy to and if not, I’m more than happy playing in the forward-line.

One of our big roles is to put on a lot of defensive pressure in the forward-line and it does sort of come naturally to me. But with the way we want to play getting the ball in quickly and trying to stop the opposition taking it out, our whole forward seven are applying the pressure. Hopefully we can keep it up and really take it up to East Freo and Subi over the next couple of weeks.

Another thing that is really enjoyable at the moment is that a lot of the guys I played in a colts premiership with back in 2011 are all playing well at league level. We’ve all over the last couple of years gone some different ways into the AFL and that sort of stuff, but to all be back together is a really good feeling. We know each other quite well and we know each other’s game well so it’s good to be playing senior footy with them and hopefully we can have some more success together.

Obviously we have the derby this weekend and it’s probably the biggest game of the year for both clubs. An Anzac Derby means a lot for all the players and coaches involved, and we know that they have been playing really well even though they had a mishap on the weekend. We then know we have the reigning premiers the week after that so it is a massive fortnight. But we aren’t looking any further ahead than this week’s game that’s for sure.

The coaches like to say it’s just another game, but as players we know it’s probably our biggest game against our arch-rivals on Anzac Day. Growing up these are the type of games you want to play in so fingers crossed we train well this week, prepare well and hopefully put on a good show on Saturday.