He’s been forced to bide his time and wait for an opportunity, but after three years at Metricon Stadium, Tasmanian Henry Schade will run out for the Gold Coast SUNS senior side for the first time this weekend.
 
The quietly spoken Tasmanian arrived in southern Queensland as a project player at the end of 2011, needing ample time in the weights room to add some size to his beanpole frame.
 
Schade’s body shape is not the only thing to evolve this summer with the 21-year-old key position player becoming far more confident in his own ability, something Rodney Eade and Malcolm Blight have specifically noticed during the hot and humid pre-season in Carrara.
 
The 196cm fullback credits the influence of new senior coach Eade, as well as working closely with assistant coaches Dean Solomon and Josh Fraser, for the spike in his development this summer.
 
“It’s hard to pinpoint one particular thing, there’s a lot of areas in my game and everyone’s game that you need to work on, so I’ve just been trying to do the best I can at improving and I’ve worked closely with coaches and confidence is one of those things I’m trying to work on,” Schade told SUNS TV on Friday afternoon ahead of the team's first NAB Challenge game against Geelong.
 
“It’s definitely good to get some positive feedback from some of those guys (Blight and Eade). I’ve just got to try and take that it into the game this weekend.
 
“Both those coaches are very important to me, ‘Solly’ being the defensive line coach and ‘Rocket’ being the head coach. I’ve been working closely with them and (I’ve) learnt a lot off ‘Rocket’ since he’s been here.
 
“I’ve worked closely with Solly and Josh Fraser whose my DOC [Duty of Care] coach. I go through edits of training each week with him and just sort of critique things I can do better.”
 
Schade faces a brutal initiation to league football with a potential match-up with powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins, comeback story Mitch Clark or spearhead Shane Kersten. Hardly an easy way to get off the mark, but a great opportunity for the North Hobart product to press his claims for a round one berth.
 
Understated and unassuming, Schade is not one to show too much emotion. But, after being forced to earn a spot the hard way, the long-armed defender is matter-of-fact with his reaction to the opportunity that awaits.
 
“Obviously its been a pretty exciting couple of weeks sort of trying to get the gig and be told that I’m going up to Townsville is very exciting. I’m just really looking forward to the opportunity,” he said.