KEN PIESSE tracks the progress of one of the VCFL’s finest, Kalkee’s Steve Schultz, who will be on show at Barooga on Sunday in the combined game against the Victorian Amateurs.Blink and you just about miss Kalkee, which consists of a footy ground and not much more on the outskirts of Horsham.
But they breed good footballers there and on Sunday is the best-represented of any of the Victorian country clubs for the VCFL vs VAFA Cystic Fibrosis Cup at Barooga.
The Schultz brothers, Steve and Grant, have been joined by Josh Mibus in the VCFL squad. The only other club with multiple selections is Dunnstown which will be represented by Aaron Sawers and Rhys Cahir.
Steve Schultz, who is joint coach at Kalkee, says representative football is always special and it is a bonus to again be flanked this year by his younger, taller brother, who plays in the ruck or at centre half-forward for Kalkee.
Schultz is fast making a name for himself as one of the VCFL’s most-decorated, having in 2008 been best afield for Horsham District in a match against a combined SA team, as well as being best in the corresponding game against the Amateurs and winning the Bob Templeton Medal on his way to All-Australian carnival selection with Vic Country in Shepparton.
To top it all off, the 26-year-old farmer was best afield in Kalkee’s grand final win over Laharum – just days before he became a father for the first time – and won the Dellar Medal for being the best player in the Horsham District Football League.
This year he was best for Horsham again in their recent challenge match against the Mallee League.
Kalkee are undefeated, too, after the opening two months, thanks in no small part to the influence of Schultz, his brother and Steve’s co-coach Jay Tucker, another talented midfielder.
Steve says having two playing coaches on the field has its advantages, especially with a well-drilled bench working in tandem.
He says the club has been well served, too, by some very promising younger players such as Tom Magee, Jordon Huff, brothers Lindsay and Simon Hobbs and Riley McFarlane.
Kalkee born and bred, Schultz had five years in the Geelong Football League, including two years at St Joseph’s and three with St Mary’s where he was part of the 2004 premiership.
He also spent a pre-season training under Ron Watt on Geelong’s supplementary list, helping to establish his own coaching ideals and philosophies.
He loves it back on the family farm and treats his football as pure relaxation.
“Melanie (Schultz’s wife) gave birth to Georgia on the Friday after last year’s Grand Final. She had been due on the Wednesday, maybe earlier, so it was a nervous wait all round,” he said. “Her birth really capped off on what was a pretty big week for us all.”
Coach of the VCFL’s team for Sunday, Ron Thomas said 24 VCFL clubs in all are represented at Barooga.
“This year’s squad includes several players from the 2008 District State sides that played in both the VAFA game and in the ACFC Division 2 Carnival in Shepparton, as well as a couple of guys out of the VFL competition,” he said.
“This will give our 2009 team a solid foundation at Barooga against the VAFA, who are sure to bounce back strongly from their defeat in 2008 at Elsternwick Park.”
By Ken Piesse
Article first published, 03 June, 2009
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