Lloyd: Vic clubs should be clamouring for Brisbane forward Josh Schache
ESSENDON champion Matthew Lloyd cannot believe Victorian clubs aren’t clamouring for Josh Schache, saying the Brisbane forward is one of the best kicks for goal he’s ever seen.
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AS the trade period nears its completion, former Essendon champion goalkicker Matthew Lloyd continues to wonder why there has been no activity for Brisbane key forward Josh Schache.
Lloyd views the homesick Schache as a golden opportunity for a Victorian club to snare a power forward who is as good a kick as he’s ever seen.
“Through the AFL Academy I was fortunate enough to be with Josh for a two-year period in 2014-2015 where I spent around 50 days on the training track with him. What I saw was why every recruiter was falling over themselves to draft him,” Lloyd, who kicked 926 goals with Essendon between 1995-2009, said.
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“He had the timing of lead, and an accuracy and technique in his kicking that I’ve never seen before in a kid, the most beautiful pure kick I’ve seen.
“Yes, he was shy and reserved but I still think he has the competitiveness in him that’s well and truly good enough, which we saw in his first season of footy.
“I see a golden opportunity for a club. If you can get him between picks 10-20, then that would be great for any club, as there are very few tall forwards until the 2018 draft when he will be three years ahead of them in terms of development.
“Players like Tom Hawkins, Jonathon Patton and Tom Boyd, they are just big guys who can look quite cumbersome at times, whereas Schache, once he becomes a real competitor, has great mobility, which will give him the flexibility to play forward and ruck.
“I think he will be a very good player.”
As speculation continues over the young forward’s future home, the man who coached him as a junior has made a spirited defence of the 20-year-old.
Darren Ogier was in charge of Schache at the Murray Bushrangers in 2014-2015, and has been bemused in recent weeks at the level of criticism directed towards the 199cm key forward.
“I think he’s been really harshly dealt by. I just thought it must have been such a slow news week when they were going hammer and tongs,” said Ogier, 54, who played with Carlton, North Melbourne and Sydney between 1985-89.
“It just takes the big boys longer because while they might have big frames but they don’t have the strength and the power ratio to match it with the best defender every week.
“Darcy Moore, they talked about dropping him this year, Paddy McCartin hasn’t gone that well yet.
“If Josh is shown a bit of patience then he will become a very good player.
“What people forget is in his first year of 2016 they played him heavily through necessity which took a lot out of him physically and emotionally.
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“But I can assure you this, Josh’s skill set it just too good for him not to be successful, he’s really quick, has a great pair of hands and he’s unbelievable below his knees.
“Plus his handballing and kicking skills are sublime.
“I was at the Bushrangers as an assistant in 2008 when we won the flag with Steele Sidebottom, Jack Ziebell and Tom Rockliff.
“It’s the same with all those players, they have the skill and they have the burning hunger to get there and Josh is no different.”
Ogier, who coached the Murray Bushrangers for six years, was also keen to speak of Schache the person, a young man he rates very highly.
“He’s a super young fellow to the point where you would be happy if your daughter brought someone home like him.
“He just wants to play good footy. He trains hard, he’s motivated and leaves no stone unturned. I spoke with him last week and he was in good spirits.
“As to where he is based next year, I think most young players benefit from being near their family and friends.”
Lee Fraser was talent manager at the Murray Bushrangers when Schache played in 2014-15 and like Ogier, has nothing but good to say about the lad from Seymour.
“He’s a great loyal kid with an outstanding attitude. The thing that has been underestimated was his debut year when his contribution has been underplayed,” said Fraser.
“He was pretty much a lone key forward which has been underplayed in the commentary over the past two weeks.
“I’m sure there will be a few clubs come knocking on the door over the next couple of days.”
HOW SCHACHE SHAPES UP
■ Ben Brown (North Melbourne): He had the run, the ability to crash packs and reasonable skills below his knees, but he needed to hang onto his marks. Once he acquired the strength, they started to stick and now you have a star.
■ Joe Daniher (Essendon): His extraordinary mobility for his 202cm frame ensured he won more of the ball than most of his young competitors, but again he required three pre-seasons to get the necessary strength
■ Tom Hawkins (Geelong): Started with a bang in 2007 against Carlton when coach Denis Pagan compared him to a young Tony Lockett, but in reality it took until the three finals of 2011 until he really started to own his area.
■ Josh Kennedy (West Coast): When he left Carlton as part of the Chris Judd deal, few at the Blues were sure about how good he was going to become. For him it was about building his tank over four or five summers.
■ Darcy Moore (Collingwood): Arguably the quickest of this group and as such not a typical power forward. But he has shown glimpses with some serious clunks that he has it. So now it’s about more possession.
■ Jonathon Patton (GWS): Possibly the most ready-made in terms of strength but had to contend with two knee reconstructions. Suspect he now finds himself where Hawkins was in 2011, so look out for a massive 2018.
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