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    27 Sep 2007
    SCHWARZE MAKING HIS MARK
    From zero to hero, Woodville-West Torrens forward Ben Schwarze has turned his fortunes around in more ways than one this season.

    The man who sealed the Eagles' berth in the preliminary final - he kicked the winning goal in Sunday's first semi-final with less than 20 seconds left - hasn't always had things his way.

    Recruited from the Kangaroos as a defender at the start of the year, Schwarze found himself running around in Woodville-West Torrens' reserves by mid-season.

    It was a far cry from the impression he intended to make at his new club.

    "My first couple of games I struggled a little bit and then I got injured," Schwarze, 24, said.

    "There were a few question marks on top of my head so it's nice to be back in the side and grab that opportunity to play forward."

    Realising Schwarze's versatility, Eagles coach Ron Fuller made the call to play the 190cm utility in attack after likening him to former Crow, and Eagle, Andrew Crowell.

    "We used to throw Andrew Crowell forward every now and then knowing he could take a good catch and kick a goal," Fuller recalled.

    "In the back of my mind I thought he (Schwarze) could develop into a forward and that was about the time (Mark) Passador got injured so he was a nice replacement up forward.

    "Even when he wasn't kicking goals he was making a contest, his pace of the mark and attack on the footy was good, it was bringing other guys into the game."

    Fuller has also admired Schwarze's mental strength since his season was at the crossroads.

    "He went through a few hard times," Fuller said.

    "He started to question his ability, question his move and question what we were about and whether he was suited to our footy club. He's shown enormous mental character and I think that came out in that last shot at goal."

    However, if you ask the modest Schwarze, it is a vastly different story.

    Team-mate Dale Symmons - who soccered the ball to him in that frantic final minute - is the man who should be recognised for setting up the Eagles' showdown with North Adelaide on Sunday.

    "You have to pump up Dale Symmons because he worked his butt off to get to the ball," Schwarze, whose cousin is St Kilda defender Leigh Fisher, said. "And if he had picked it up he would have been tackled. Fortunately I was playing in front and I was lucky it (the soccer off the ground) carried."

    Courtesy of The Advertiser
    Story by Zac Milbank

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