Tiger Jay Schulz eyes a spot at the zooJackie Epstein | August 16, 2009
RICHMOND forward Jay Schulz is taking a shine to the elephants at Melbourne Zoo.
Through the AFL Sportsready program, Schulz has worked with the giant animals once a week for the past three months. The rare opportunity has helped him cope with a tough season battling injury.
"It's been a bit of a trying year," Schulz said. "With all the stuff that happened in the first half of the year and in the second half of the year, I have bone bruising in my heel.
"This has been a good outlet for me to not think about footy. I've grown up with animals, living on a farm about two hours out of Adelaide. We always had pets -- dogs, cats, chooks, sheep -- so it's always been a big thing for me. It's a very positive thing in what's been a disappointing year for me."
Schulz has managed 71 games for the Tigers and has played the past few games with Richmond's VFL affiliate, Coburg.
Contracted to the club next year, he is looking forward to a change of fortune.
He admitted preparing food and washing elephants left him dirtier than after playing a match.
"My girlfriend knows I smell when I come home," Schulz said.
"Elephants . . . they are pretty placid as long as the trainers are around. They're about as smart as a five-year-old kid, so they can be a bit cheeky."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25933231-2862,00.html