Adam Schneider drops bombshell to sign as coach of Lavington

The 37-year-old has committed for the next three years at Lavington Sports Ground.

Schneider was contracted as an assistant coach of Greater Western Sydney for 2022.

But in a huge leap of faith, Schneider negotiated a release out of his contract to join the Panthers.

The Panthers were able to lure Schneider through football manager Graham Hart who got to know the former Osborne junior during his coaching stint at Osborne from 2006-2009.

Schneider is hoping to relocate from Sydney with his young family before Christmas, and is expected to take over pre-season training early in the new year.

Lavington football manager Graham Hart revealed he originally contacted Schneider to ask if he could recommend any potential coaches.

"When I first contacted Adam, I was using him as a reference point to gain some feedback and advice on potential coaches we were targeting," Hart said.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I think Adam would be interested in the coaching job at Lavington.

"We weren't that naive to think we could target a currently contracted AFL assistant coach.

"We were having conversations of a different context but it developed from there."

Hart said Schneider's bombshell decision was based equally on a lifestyle choice as well as football.

"Speaking to Adam, he has got a young family who he feels will benefit from a country lifestyle," he said.

"It's also where he wants to be in the long term.

"Adam has got three kids and the eldest is starting high school next year.

"So the timing was in our favour in that regard."

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Schneider is one of three O&M coaches with experience at the elite level as both a player and coach.

He joins Wangaratta Rovers coach Daryn Cresswell and Corowa-Rutherglen mentor Peter German.

Hart is confident Schneider's profile will help the club attract recruits after finishing outside the top-five this year.

"Obviously Adam has been involved in the AFL for almost two decades and has extensive contacts," Hart said.

"But history says Lavington is not a club that chases high-profile recruits but more players that we feel are a good fit for the club.

"Recruiting priorities will be young players who want to stay at the club over the journey for the long term.

"I think anyone that knows Adam will agree that he will be the perfect fit for our club which we are rapt about.

"We like to think Lavington is a blue collar club who like to work hard as a group and get the work done and have a good time together off the field as well.

"I know a lot of club's pump up their kids but we have got a genuinely exciting crop of teenagers coming through the ranks.

"Yes, our under-18s struggled this year but the group below that we have got some absolute corkers who are emerging.

"Having the opportunity to be coached by someone the calibre of Adam will be huge for their development."

Hart said Schneider plans to make the trek from Sydney to take a handful of training sessions before Christmas.

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