Schneider was recruited from Osborne and NSW/ACT Rams by Sydney in the 2001 AFL Draft. He was Sydney's 4th Round selection and number 60 overall. During his first season at the club, Schneider suffered minor injuries and illness which sidelined him for over three months. However, in 2003, Schneider hit the ground running. Through the pre-season and practice matches he was in great form and earned his senior AFL debut. He debuted in round 1 of the 2003 premiership season against Carlton. His form was good enough for him to hold his place in the seniors for all 24 matches as well as kicking 30 goals for the season. He was awarded the AFL Rising Star nomination in round 5 and finished fifth in the voting for that season's award. 2004, however, was a completely different story. Schneider suffered a hamstring injury which saw the young goal sneak sidelined for a month. He managed to be selected for just 12 matches, half as many as the previous season and managed to kick only nine goals. In the 2005 season, Schneider gradually improved and towards the second half of the season he was again a regular starter. He went on to play for the Swans in the grand final and scored Sydney's second goal of the match, and was an important and variable player. He was traded to St Kilda in 2007.
St Kilda
Schneider was recruited by St Kilda from Sydney in a trade in exchange for the number 26draft pick in the 2007 AFL Draft in a deal that also included Sean Dempster moving to the Saints. Schneider wore the No. 13 guernsey for the Saints. Schneider played in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup winning side, the club's third pre-season cup win. Schneider played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 AFL season in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership. St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Schneider played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points, denying him a second premiership out of three grand final appearances as he had lost a grand final with Sydney in 2006 against when the Swans lost by one point. Schneider played in 25 games in 2010, including four finals matches, and kicked 39 goals. As of the end of the 2010 season, Schneider had played in 22 finals series matches including five grand finals. Following the Grand Final replay, Schneider was suspended for the first two matches of the 2011 season for an incident involving 's Brent Macaffer in the third quarter. Schneider was de-listed at the conclusion of the 2014 season, and then re-drafted by St Kilda as a mature age rookie for the 2015 AFL season. He played one further season, and retired at the end of 2015 after 228 games, following St Kilda's round 22 home game against his old club, the Sydney Swans.
Post-AFL career
After leaving the AFL, Schneider won a VAFA Premier B premiership with Beaumaris in 2016. Adam represented Australia at the 2016 Kabbadi World Cup. Head Coach of GWS Giants in the NEAFL. Assistant Coach of GWS Giants in the AFL.
