Josh Schache Biography

Josh Schache is traded to Melbourne in exchange for a future fourth-round pick going to the Bulldogs.

"We're pleased to welcome an experienced and versatile player in Josh to the club," said Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb.

"We have seen him play a number of roles over the years, with both Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, and we look forward to seeing what he can produce in the red and blue."

Already signed on for 2020, Josh Schache signs a two-year contract extension to remain at the Western Bulldogs until the end of 2022.

"I've loved my time at the Bulldogs over the last two years and had no hesitation in wanting to extend my contract with the club," Schache said.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed working on my game and trying to make an impact for the team, and I look forward to continuing my development over the next few years.

"We have a talented young group, and I'm excited about what we might be able to achieve together in the future."

Josh Schache believes his focus over summer on becoming a physical presence on the field played a significant role in his breakout performance against Hawthorn.

The Dogs' nine-goal-to-one comeback in the final term stemmed largely from midfield domination and three goals to the former No.2 draft pick.

"I think over the off-season and pre-season that was a big goal of mine, to put a bit more weight on," Schache said.

"I pride my game on making a big contest. I think all my teammates love it when the big bloke goes and crashes the pack and brings the ball to ground. That’s something that I’ll keep growing on."

After breaking into the Bulldogs' senior side in recent weeks, Josh Schache says he is enjoying his time at the club since moving from Brisbane.

"I couldn't thank Brisbane enough for the last two years, but looking forward now with the Dogs I'm really excited about what this group can do and I'm really enjoying it," Schache said.

"It's only about an hour and a bit back to Seymour from where I'm living at the moment, so I get back there most weekends and it is really good. I've got friends down here as well, and everyone at the club has been really supportive."

Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains says expectations on recruit Josh Schache in 2018 need to realistic.

"Josh is still a player that is still developing, and he's obviously got a lot of talent to be drafted where he was, so hopefully in this environment he can continue to be supported and grow into the player we want him to be," Bains said.

"To expect that seismic change in year one at the Bulldogs is a stretch."

Josh Schache admits he has been riled by questions about his competitiveness.

"I think I'm competitive, and I was pretty pissed off when I heard I wasn't competitive enough," Schache said.

"I'm not here to run around the ground and do the little things, I'm here to compete really hard and do what I need to do for the team.

"I want to prove everyone wrong and show that I am competitive."

Western Bulldogs recruit Josh Schache says his new coach Luke Beveridge expects him to be more versatile as the key forward looks to reignite his career at Whitten Oval.

"Being able to go into the ruck and even exploring somewhere else on the ground is something he raised with me," Schache said.

"I like getting up the ground with my endurance and then get back towards goal, and I like to think I'm mobile for my size."

Brisbane trade Josh Schache to the Bulldogs in exchange for picks 25 and 40.

With the 2017 trade period nearing its end, Lions general manager of football David Noble says there have been no serious suitors for Josh Schache.

"We haven't had anyone that has legitimately come to us in the last 24 hours and said, 'Can we do a deal for Josh?'" Noble said.

"Clubs need to get organised, they need to do medicals, they need to do interviews with players, so the timeframe is starting to shorten."

Brisbane are open to parting ways with contracted key forward Josh Schache if a suitable deal can be reached in the upcoming trade period.

"When he re-signed that we thought there'd be a point in time where he would consider going home," Lions football manager David Noble said.

"We got on the front foot with Josh and his manager and had a conversation, and if things work out with both parties, we'd be interested [in trading him]."

Josh Schache's manager says he expects his client to remain at the Lions in 2018.

Schache signed a two-year extension in June to remain at the Lions before his decision to skip the NEAFL Grand Final and return to Victoria again ignited discussion about him potentially leaving.

"There was a lot of fascination around Josh earlier in the year and it still seems to be happening, but my last conversation with Josh … was nothing around leaving," David Trotter, of McDonald Sports, said.

"It was plans for his off-season and heading back up to Brisbane, so that's all I can judge it off."

Josh Schache will finish his 2017 season a week early after the Brisbane Lions granted him permission to skip Saturday's NEAFL Grand Final against the Sydney Swans.

Schache, 20, missed Saturday's preliminary final victory and then asked the club for the early finish to his year after a mentally draining season.

He will drive back to his home in Seymour in country Victoria early this week.

Lions coach Chris Fagan says the time will come when young forwards Josh Schache and Eric Hipwood's time will dominate against defenders they currently struggle against.

"They'll get bigger and stronger," Fagan said.

"Their days are ahead of them I think, where they might be able to get some revenge on some of the older defenders that are a bit bigger and stronger than them at them at the moment."

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says Josh Schache is returning to the club a revitalised footballer.

"I think there was a lot of strain around that period of time when he was trying to work out what he would do and where he would play his footy," Fagan said.

"And the expectations that have been on his shoulders since he arrived at this club.

"It's been a good period of time for him to go back and enjoy his footy. The way he's training and the way he's playing now is with a lot of energy.

"Not only is he kicking a few goals himself, he's bringing his teammates into the play and playing his role for the team."

Josh Schache signs a two-year deal with Brisbane that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"Having been at the Lions for a couple of years and seeing where we are headed, I’m really excited about our future," Schache said.

"I enjoy living in Brisbane and playing footy with a committed and hard working group."

Lions coach Chris Fagan admits he would be hesitant to play Josh Schache if the young forward decides not to stay at Brisbane.

"If a guy decides he's going to leave your footy club and he's not going to help you into the future, and you're not in the finals race, you probably have to think twice about investing games into him, as opposed to another young player who's going to stay," Fagan said.

Josh Schache admits the constant speculation surrounding his playing future has been difficult to handle.

"It has been a little bit tough. I'd be lying if it wasn't tough," Schache told Channel Nine.

"A lot of the speculation (that has) been going through the media has been blown up out of nowhere.

"(My manager) hasn't been shopping me, he hasn't been doing anything wrong so … it's been pretty hard to believe with what the media has been saying.

"I'm enjoying my time at the Brisbane Lions, I'll work with my manager and see how things go."

The 199cm goalkicker said he was appreciative of the mid-season rest given to him by the Lions.

"I'm very thankful for what the club's been able to do for me, my family and working closely with my management," Schache said.

"I couldn't say anything bad about the Brisbane Lions, they've been awesome supporting me through this time with the family and I couldn't thank them enough."

Brisbane have given Josh Schache a few days leave to return to Victoria amid his second-season struggles.

The out of contract 19-year-old was dropped to the NEAFL at the weekend where he had just four disposals.

Lions football manager David Noble said the decision had nothing to do with reports the young forward had been given time off to decide on his future.

"I can categorically deny it," Noble said.

"There's been no deadline given. We're talking to Josh's manager every few days but there is no timeframe whatsoever."

Schache's manager, Dave Trotter of McDonald Sports, echoed Noble's comments.

"It is more that they are giving him a rest because everyone watching him play (can see) he looks a bit fatigued," Trotter said.

"They said, 'Is this something that will help him?' His mum and brother were up on the weekend and they said, 'Why don't you just go home with them?'

"It is not related to his contract."

Lions coach Chris Fagan expresses his frustration with the short length of draftee contracts as Josh Schache ponders his future after just two years at the club.

"I particularly think for first-round draft picks, it should be three to four years at least before they can consider moving somewhere else," Fagan said.

"To be thinking about your future two years into a start at a new place and whether you want to go somewhere else is borderline ridiculous."

Scache has been dropped for week's match against Adelaide at the Gabba after struggling for most of his six matches this season.

"As a 19-year-old boy, if they are the things he's thinking about, that must be tough," Fagan said when asked if Schache was preoccupied with thoughts on his contract situation.

"What I do know is in Josh's time at the club he's been coached well, managed well off the field in terms of welfare, and I think the club's done everything they can to make this a good place for him to be, and that is the only bit we can control."

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says he won't be pestering Josh Schache about whether he will be at the club in 2018.

"I don't ask him [about his contract]," Fagan said.

"I and the other coaches just try to create the best environment we can for him so that he can improve and grow as a player. That is our part of the deal and that is what we will stick to."

The coach said plenty of pressure was placed on Schache in 2016 because of the Lions' situation but he was no different to other key forwards and would need time to develop.

"We have just got to keep Josh realistic and striving and not feel like he is under pressure to be too good too soon," Fagan said.

"We have got to let the rest of the world know he is just a young and developing player and that he will gradually improve, but don't expect the world from him."

Josh Schache could miss start of season after suffering a low-grade medial ligament strain in a contact drill.

Fortunately the former No.2 draft pick did not require surgery.

Josh Schache is happy at the Brisbane Lions but the out-of-contract spearhead wants to focus on making a strong start to the 2017 home and away season before opening contract negotiations.

Schache's manager, Dave Trotter of McDonald Sports and Talent Management, says his client was content living in Brisbane and playing with the Lions.

But Trotter said Schache, who is from Seymour in regional Victoria, wanted to hold off any contract talks with the Lions until after the start of home and away season.

Top-10 draft prospect Ben Ainsworth says the chance to play senior footy in 2017 and reunite with underage teammates Josh Schache and Sam Skinner are the main reasons behind his desire to join the Brisbane Lions.

"Getting an opportunity to play at the highest level is definitely the thing that comes to my mind, and that's why I did say I'd like to go to Brisbane," he said.

"I think they're developing a pretty good culture at Brisbane and I think there's good things ahead for the club.

"I know (Lions players) Josh Schache and Sam Skinner from Gippsland Power, too.

"But wherever I get an opportunity it doesn't really bother me, I just want to take it with both hands."

Josh Schache will not play again in 2016, with the Brisbane Lions deciding to rest the key forward after a heavy workload in his first year.

"We've put a lot of weight and load through him this year and it's a bit unfair on the youngest player in the comp," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said.

"We've asked a lot of our group this year, particularly our younger brigade, and I know the results haven't been great, but they've had to endure more than most."

Josh Schache has played more minutes than all but 40 AFL players in his first season.

He is also the only first-year player in the top 100 players for minutes played until the end of round 16.

Schache has played 1702 minutes in 15 games, having been rested for round six against the Sydney Swans and then getting a break because of the bye between rounds 14 and 16.

"We probably didn't anticipate him playing so many games and we're really conscious of it," Brisbane Lions high performance manager Damien Austin said.

"It's a massive learning curve and he has been put in the deep end.

"We're very happy with where he is at and what he is doing. We're confident in his ability to run and run out games."

Josh Schache makes his AFL debut for Brisbane with 9 disposals (7 kicks and 2 handballs), 5 marks, 4 tackles and 2 goals in a 64-point loss to West Coast.

Lions skipper Tom Rockliff raves over No.2 draftee Josh Schache who has been having standout pre-season.

"His patterns are unbelievable as a forward," Rockliff said.

"He was doing numbers on Daniel Merrett and Harris Andrews, who was outstanding for us last year.

"I think I've seen him miss one goal – he hit the post on Friday. That's the first set-shot goal I've seen him miss all pre-season, so that says a little bit about his kicking technique.

"He can kick them from outside 50 no worries and his hands are as good I've seen. He's only an 18-year-old but it's going to be so good to watch him when he's 23 or 24."

Josh Schache has been billed as a saviour of sorts for the battling Brisbane Lions but coach Justin Leppitsch says to not expect too much from the No.2 draft pick in his first season.

"We have to be patient with young keys," he said.

"The No.1 pick last year (Paddy McCartin) is a key forward and was hardly sighted last season, so we can't put too much pressure on our young boys."

Rated as the best key forward in this year's NAB AFL draft, Josh Schache went as expected to the Brisbane Lions with the No.2 selection.

His dad Laurence was also a key forward with the old Brisbane Bears, playing 29 games in 1991-92.

"A powerful key forward. Great mark. Great work ethic and he's a terrific kick at goal. He'll take some time, Josh, but we're hoping he'll be the player we're searching for," Lions recruiting manager Stephen Conole said of Schache.