Western Bulldogs forward Josh Schache adds almost five kilos ahead of big summer

Intent on not being pushed off the ball in 2019, Bulldogs forward Josh Schache is eating for Australia. And after returning to training noticeably heavier, he hopes to maintain his beefed-up look.

Josh Schache at training. Pic: Michael Klein

Josh Schache expedited his travel plans.

As the footy world soaked up the start of September the Western Bulldogs sharpshooter and housemate Brad Lynch jetted to the US.

The duo sat in the Dodger Stadium stands as LA piled on a run-fest against the New York Mets and then watched Philadelphia outlast Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.

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Then, with more than a month left on the holiday clock, Schache returned home and got to work.

“I’ve put on 4.7kg,” Schache said before ‘Handball Club’ at Whitten Oval, where Bulldog youngsters were joined by Tom Liberatore, Liam Picken and Jackson Trengove.

Josh Schache at Bulldogs training on Thursday. Pic: Michael Klein

“That was my goal over the off-season, to get in the gym more and do more swimming and I’ve been eating more to put that extra weight on.

“I feel like that’s where I can catch a little bit of a break to other players.

“I’d eat around six meals a day. Before weights I’d get around four eggs in and a couple of pieces of toast.”

Schache has confused his scales in recent years as his weight fluctuated.

In 2015 he was drafted at about 96kg. Then, at the Brisbane Lions, he peaked at about 103kg.

Last year Schache shed 10kg — cutting out carbs as he trimmed down to about 93kg — and right now he has beefed back up to 99kg.

The plan is to maintain the gains over summer. Then, he is hopeful it will make him harder to move in 2019.

Western Bulldogs training at Whitten Oval. Josh Schache at training today. Pic: Michael Klein

“As a key forward you need to be strong in contests,” Schache said.

“Definitely in my lower body. I’ve put a kilo on each side, so each leg, and that gives you that bit more stability being able to hold your ground.”

It’s been a turbulent ride for the No.2 pick, who has eked out 40 games and 42 goals in three seasons.

But the 21-year-old has never been happier, living just minutes from Whitten Oval with Lynch and Bailey Dale and returning to Seymour most weekends.

It was at the Seymour Football Club where he was been pumping weights in October.

“It’s pretty quiet in there and they’ve got everything I need,” Schache said.

Then there’s the swimming, also completed back at his hometown.

“Mainly freestyle,” Schache said. “I’d get up to 1.5km some sessions in a bit under half an hour.

“I don’t mind swimming, so I’ll get in there most days and it works your upper body a bit more.

“It’s good for your aerobic capacity as well.”

Bulldogs veteran Liam Picken also returned to train with the 2-4 year players. Pic: Michael Klein

Schache showed good signs at times last season. Pic: Michael Klein

A long-time strength of Schache’s is his set-shot routine, likened to a fluent golf swing in his draft year.

Schache spins the Sherrin three times, walks eight steps, jogs four steps and kicks.

“I try and walk straight, jog straight and kick straight and then hopefully the ball goes straight,” he said.

Marked into his 2019 diary will be more video analysis of the game’s best key forwards alongside coach Ash Hansen.

Jack Riewoldt is a favourite of Schache’s while coach Luke Beveridge highlighted a defensive trick of Josh Kennedy’s game.

“I was talking to Bevo before and he brought up how Josh Kennedy’s short steps really complement his team defence,” he said.

Short steps?

“It means defensively not lumbering in, so shortening your steps and coming in a bit more agile and being able to close off those exits to give my teammates down the field a little bit more time to set up.”

This year Schache said the goal was to “have a lot of fun and learn a lot” as he enjoyed being back into Victoria.

Next season is simply about building on that.