Lions to lose lacklustre forward Schache
BRAVE Brisbane have bitten the bullet and dumped out-ofform and out-of-contract key forward Josh Schache for tomorrow’s clash with Adelaide at the Gabba.
Previous Lions administrations would have taken the soft option and kept a struggling player such as Schache in the senior side, hoping it would help with contract negotia- tions. But under the new Gabba regime, you perform or perish, regardless of your reputation or contract status.
Schache was barely sighted in the 38-point loss to Hawthorn last Saturday with no goals, no behinds, eight disposals, three marks and two inside 50 entries to continue his lacklustre form this season.
The No.2 selection from the 2015 draft has registered six goals in six games this season. He has been overshadowed significantly by fellow key forward Eric Hipwood.
Contract decisions are clearly weighing heavily on his mind, with the 19-year-old playing well below his best football, form which has the potential to drive down his asking price.
Schache is set to make a call on his future during Brisbane’s bye week, with a number of Victorian clubs keen to secure his services. If he departed, Brisbane would not be heartbroken as they would probably get in return at least two high draft picks in such a trade and still have Hipwood on their books.
Schache, Tom Rockliff (shoulder) and Rohan Bewick (omitted) drop out of the side that fell to the Hawks, with captain Dayne Beams, Hugh McCluggage and Matt Hammelmann coming back into the side. The return of Beams cancels out the loss of Rockliff.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Lions’ women’s side have resigned a host of players from the squad who qualified for the inaugural AFLW grand final.
Captain Emma Zielke and marquee signing Sabrina Frederick-Traub have recommitted for 2018 along with Alexandra Anderson, Brittany Gibson, Breanna Koenen, Tahlia Randall, Jamie Stanton, Sharni Webb and Jess Wuetschner.