Forward move good for Josh

Josh Schoenfeld is prepared to make a full-time switch from the wing to forward in a bid to increase his presence at AFL level with the Gold Coast Suns.

Schoenfeld will play his first AFL game of the season – and first in his home state of Western Australia – when the Suns play Fremantle in Round 20 at Domain Stadium today.

The 20-year-old Rockingham and Peel Thunder product has previously played five senior games over two seasons while trying to forge his career as a wingman but has earned a recall following a recent shift into the forward line.

Injuries opened the door in the position he moved into a month ago in the club’s NEAFL team where he kicked seven goals in three games.

Schoenfeld, taken at No.34 of the 2015 draft by Gold Coast, still has long-term ambitions to become an AFL wingman but is convinced his best avenue to that aim is in front of goals.

“At this stage of my career it is probably at half-forward, just until I become strong enough around the stoppages and get better at the contested side of my game, which I think is what was holding me back at the start of the year with the coaches,” he said.

“It’s given me more of a chance to play AFL and getting my name in there.

“Playing at that level will allow me to eventually progress to the wing which is a pattern that many players have followed.”

Schoenfeld’s parents, grandparents and friends will all be at the game to watch him play at the ground he once dreamed of making his AFL debut at for Fremantle as a junior.

“It is massive and probably the one game I pinpointed at the start of the year to play,” Schoenfeld said.

“It’s hard to put into words but it is really exciting and adds a little bit more spice to it.”