Jonathan Brown says Brisbane must offer Josh Schache big money deal to stay at the Lions

FORMER No.2 draft pick and Brisbane forward Josh Schache has been linked to a move back to Victoria but Lions great Jonathan Brown says the club must offer him a big contract to entice him to stay.

Josh Schache is out of contract and could depart the Lions at season’s end. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

BRISBANE great Jonathan Brown believes the Lions should pay young forward Josh Schache as much as $700,000 per season from next year to stop the trend of top picks departing the club.

Schache is out of contract at the end of the season and there is speculation he could be headed home to Victoria, with Richmond, Collingwood and Carlton already linked to the former No.2 draft pick.

The 19-year-old could be offered a mega multi-year deal to leave Brisbane.

When asked whether Brown would pay Schache $700,000 per season to stay at the Lions from next season, the triple premiership star said: “Yeah, because you’ve got to break the cycle.

“That might be the going rate.

“Brisbane cannot be seen as a destination where players can just walk out because we know first-round draft picks, they’ve virtually got free agency because they can leave.

Josh Schache is out of contract and could depart the Lions at season’s end. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

“At the end of the day, $600 (thousand) probably gets it done.

“If he is so homesick and he definitely doesn’t want to play in Brisbane well, a million bucks probably doesn’t get it done.”

Schache was dropped for Saturday night’s clash with Adelaide after struggling for form, having booted just six goals from six games so far this season.

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He is averaging only 8.5 disposals and just over three marks per game.

Schache also struggled in the NEAFL over the weekend, managing just one goal from four disposals.

If he leaves, he would join a long list of Lions to depart for other clubs including Sam Docherty, Elliott Yeo, Jared Polec and James Aish.

Josh Schache was dropped by Brisbane last week. Picture: Mark Calleja

“You can’t have these players leaving,” Brown said on On The Couch.

“Pay them the money, keep them happy ... you’ve got to pay it to someone. Pay (Dayne) Beams, keep Rockliff there, he’s been in All-Australian (form).

“I’d pay him (Schache), I’d pay (Eric) Hipwood, I’d pay (Harris) Andrews, (Daniel) McStay.

“It comes back to the psyche of the kid. If he’s happy up there and it’s where he wants to play (then pay him).

“It seems like a happy club up there, all reports people are people are happy and Chris Fagan is doing a great job.

“I’m confident they’ll be having a crack at keeping him.”

The Herald Sun reported last week Schache could inform the Lions of his intentions for next season during the club’s bye.