The big-bodied midfielder played 16 for the Roosters in 2016 despite suffering some niggling injuries throughout the season.

While the year was a tough one as far as the Victorian Football League ladder was concerned, as North Ballarat won just three matches. It was a positive one for Schnerring who showed positive signs in a variety of positions for the Roosters and strung together multiple games in a successful return from a knee reconstruction – suffered in the early stages of his 2015 TAC Cup campaign with the North Ballarat Rebels.

Coach Marc Greig said the club was pleased with the amount of its playing list it had retained and would also look to attract some experienced players to the list.

Fellow Rooster and AFL-hopeful Rowan Marshall impressed in AFL Victoria’s Young Guns game.

The match is played out between two teams hand-picked from some of the state’s players that are still looking to press their case to be drafted or find their way onto a rookie list. Marshall will attend the AFL draft state combine in October and did his chances no harm with a strong performance in the game at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday. He showcased his ability to be an agile ruckman as well as a capable forward.