Josh Schoenfeld’s life changed before his very eyes on Tuesday night when the Gold Coast SUNS drafted the Peel Thunder running machine with the club’s third pick in the national draft at No. 34.
 
Nestled in amongst his family in Perth, the 18-year-old was overcome with emotion when Rodney Eade read his name out, securing his future with the game’s 17th franchise.
 
“It was probably the best day of my life. I was just around family back in Perth. It was a very nervous day the whole day, to be with them when my name was read out was very emotional, I’ll say that,” Schoenfeld told SUNS TV in his first interview as a Gold Coast footballer.
 
“(I was) more stoked than anything, (I was) just surprised going at pick 34. A lot of emotion from the parents.”
 
Days on from the monumental occasion, Schoenfeld is still coming to terms with the path his life is now on.
 
Despite meeting with the list manager, Scott Clayton, and recruiting boss, Dom Ambrogio, a couple of times, the West Australian was still not prepared for what happened on Tuesday night.
 
“I’d seen them at the combine, just did some psych stuff. But afterwards, the week after, I went and saw them in Perth – but that was the last I heard from them, so I wasn’t 100 per cent sure,” Schoenfeld said.
 
“They were one of the only clubs I saw twice, so I guess I had an inkling that they were a bit more interested. But I guess I wasn’t really prepared for anything, but to be on the Gold Coast list is great, I can’t believe it.”
 
It was at the draft combine in early October where Schoenfeld put his name up in lights following two brilliant performances in the endurance tests. On day two, he produced the second best beep test in the combine’s history, recording a 16.2.
 
And then, less than 24 hours, the softly spoken, but quietly assured Schoenfeld blew recruiters away by breaking the 3km time trial record with a 9 minutes and 15 seconds performance. The two efforts thrusting his name into the spotlight, forcing recruiters to think a little harder about him.
 
“I guess (with) my physical ability, I always knew I could really push it. In the lead up I knew I had to prove a point and put my name out there. So I worked pretty hard,” Schoenfeld said.
 
“I did a lot of sprint based stuff too just to give me the edge for the tests I needed to work on. But I did a lot of running and beep test related things with our strength and conditioning coach at Peel, that really helped a lot. I think I prepared really well and the results came as a result of that.”
 
The lightly framed West Australian, with the v8 engine under his hood, already has his eyes fixed on improving the weaknesses in his game. He knows he must add size in the weights room in order to increase the contested side of his game.
 
“Size, a lot of size. I’ve got to gain a fair bit of weight just to help me transition into that AFL environment. I think that’s the main thing. It will help me in the long run, just to help with the contested side of things as well. So just add weight and get stronger,” he said.
 
Given his proven track record of applying himself to his craft, there is little doubt Schoenfeld will quickly go about preparing his body as best he can for the rigours of the game at the highest level.