GNFL 2024 season preview: Chapman Valley’s new coach Jayden Schofield confident of finals in 2024

The opportunity to progress to a Great Northern Football League coach was one that was too good to pass up, according to Chapman Valley’s biggest off-season recruit.

After spending three years at Brigades, Jayden Schofield made the move to join the Royals, where he signed on as player-coach, bringing his brother Kim along with him.

He said after a taste of coaching in the past, he wanted more.

“I’ve always had a passion to coach, I’ve coached under 19s in the past,” he said.

“For Chapman Valley to come with a player-coach offer, I couldn’t pass it up and I jumped at it with both hands.”

Preseason for the Royals started earlier than most other GNFL clubs.

Schofield had his side begin from late November, not only to build fitness, but to get an idea of how the side interacts with one another.

He said his past experience in the AFL and WAFL systems had helped him isolate a coaching style.

“I’ve played under some of the best coaches and best leaders the game has seen,” he said.

“Rob Wiley was just a people person and cared about the players, it wasn’t so much about how we played the game.

“If you care about the players and they care about you, they’re going to want to play for you.”

A number of players have turned out for training, according to Schofield, but one of the most impressive has been one of their recruits.

He said former Rover Beau Simpson had put in the effort and was set for a big year.

“He’s been the best trainer by far,” Schofield said.

“At his own admission, he’s lost a bit of weight, and we cannot fault his work ethic.”

Chapman Valley has the longest premiership drought in the league, last raising the flag in 1992.

But Schofield said his side was not prepared to think about September action until they qualified.

“I’d be disappointed if we didn’t play finals with the recruits we’ve got and the list we’ve made,” he said.

“I’ve told the boys let’s make finals, and then once you’re in the four, anything can happen.”

The Royals’ women’s side, on the other hand, has kept its core group together as it aims to go one better in 2024 after falling to Brigades in the grand final.

GLENN BARNDON PREDICTION: SECOND

Chapman Valley have recruited Jayden and Kim Schofield, two high-profile player coaches, along with the experienced Simpson brothers Beau and Kobe. This should improve the Royals competitiveness along with the return from travel of the experienced Lee Hutchinson and Tom Walker. They should also be boosted by the inclusion of at least seven former Royals colts premiership players now in their early to mid-20s.