EFNL 2024: Ex-AFL forward Josh Schache signs at Doncaster East

Recently delisted AFL forward Josh Schache hasn’t taken long to find his new football home, with the former No. 2 draft pick landing in the Eastern league.

Josh Schache has found a new football home in Melbourne’s east. Photo by Michael Klein

Defenders in the Eastern league’s Premier Division are set to have their hands full with Doncaster East’s latest addition.

Former AFL forward Josh Schache has signed at the Lions for next season after his 76-game career in the big-time came to a close.

The 199cm talent was taken by the Brisbane Lions with pick No. 2 in the 2015 national draft before stops at the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, kicking 79 goals.

He was delisted from the Demons at the end of this season after just four matches.

Now 27, the ex-Murray Bushranger links with former Bulldogs teammate Tim O’Brien at Zerbes Reserve.

“They’re good mates and he’s also got a connection through one of our other players,” Doncaster East president Peter Sowersby said.

“It’s probably been a five-week process since he got delisted.

“He was pretty keen to get on the front foot and speak to us about playing.”

EFNL 2024: Doncaster East has signed Josh Schache. Picture: Supplied

Sowersby said Schache would fill a key post in attack – freeing up O’Brien who played as a focal point this season, kicking 37 goals in 14 matches.

“It will give (senior coach) Ryan (James) more flexibility with him (O’Brien), obviously,” he said.

“He’s a man-mountain, Josh, he’s 199cm so that’s going to help – last year with injury, Tim had two to three on him, so it’s definitely going to help us in that sense.”

Doncaster East missed the finals this season with a 5-13 record amid a horror run with injury, with the president hopeful his club’s prized recruit can help it climb the ladder.

The Lions, who also have ex-AFL men Josh Deluca and Taylin Duman on their books, have re-signed more than 45 of their current list for next season.

“He’s (Schache) just turned 27 so he’s the perfect age for local footy,” Sowersby said.

“Hopefully Josh gets us back into the finals … you look at someone like South Croydon last year, they almost got relegated and (this year) won a final.”