How Josh Schache trade cost Western Bulldogs two of the AFL’s most promising key defenders, GWS’ Sam Taylor and Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard

The real price of the Josh Schache trade hit the Western Bulldogs last week as a team bereft of key defenders was monstered by Carlton trio Harry McKay, Levi Casboult and Mitch McGovern.

The real price of the Josh Schache trade hit the Western Bulldogs last week.

With Aaron Naughton at full forward, Zaine Cordy (193cm) was the only key defender picked against a Carlton team boasting best-afield Harry McKay (204cm), Levi Casboult (198cm) and Mitch McGovern (191cm).

Expensive free agent Jackson Trengove (197cm) and premiership defender Fletcher Roberts (196cm) are wildly out of favour and their strong VFL form again went unrewarded.

But they were not the only key defenders the Dogs could’ve had access to.

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With 30 seconds left in the 2017 trade period, stressed football boss Chris Grant signed off on a deal for homesick full-forward Schache.

Needing to save face after the public disaster that was Jake Stringer’s exit, the Dogs emerged as the only buyer for the talented yet unproven goalkicker.

Western Bulldogs traded pick 25 and 40 for Josh Schache, which could have netted two of the AFL’s most promising defenders. Picture: Michael Klein.

But with Brisbane Lions asking for more than just pick No. 25, the Dogs buckled under deadline pressure and threw in No. 40 … with nothing coming back.

Keeping those two picks would’ve delivered a draft bonanza for the Dogs.

After grabbing Naughton and Ed Richards in the first round, backmen Charlie Ballard and Sam Taylor were high on the club’s talent board.

How handy would they have been against the Blues?

Given Taylor lasted until pick 28 (GWS) and Ballard until 42 (Gold Coast) it is possible that both would’ve made it to the Dogs.

While teenagers Taylor and Ballard are off Broadway, they’ve played every game this year and are rated as emerging stars by their expansion clubs.

Taylor is a key defender who intercepts well next to Phil Davis, while Ballard has stood up in Rory Thompson’s absence after shooting from 180cm to 197cm in two years.

GWS defender Sam Taylor, rated one of the AFL’s most promising backmen, could have been a Tiger. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

Charlie Ballard has emerged as a key member of Gold Coast’s defensive unit. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images.

The Dogs had form in that part of the draft. In 2014 they took Toby McLean at No. 26, Bailey Dale at No. 45 and Caleb Daniel at No. 46.

McLean and Daniel played in the 2016 premiership, as did 2015 No. 25 pick Josh Dunkley.

A sweaty Grant emerged after deadline confident Schache and Tom Boyd would work in the same attack.

“We see a great combination between both those players, but also ‘Roughy’ (Jordan Roughead) in the ruck, so we’re really well placed,” Grant said.

Little more than a year on and Roughead is gone, Schache has been dropped and Boyd requires months in the VFL after a serious back problem.

If Schache, Trengove and Boyd team up for Footscray on Sunday the Dogs will have close to $2 million of this year’s salary cap in the VFL.

It is still unfair to question Schache, who is not the only early pick struggling in his fourth season.

The Seymour boy booted four goals in Round 2 but then endured a lean fortnight, where he managed five kicks for no score as coach Luke Beveridge lost patience with him.

But it isn’t too early to question the trade, and Ballard and Taylor provide a clearer assessment of whether the Dogs paid too much.