Terry Wallace believes the lack of interest in want-away Brisbane youngster Josh Schache boils down to a fear that the 2015 number two draft pick suffers from the same problem that has held back Jack Watts for most of his career.
The 20-year-old Lion requested a trade back home to his native Victoria despite penning a new contract with his current side earlier this year, but has not garnered any significant interest due to Brisbane’s high asking price for the key forward, with a first round draft pick believed to be all that that the Lions are prepared to accept in return.
Despite the former Murray Bushrangers prospect posting numbers in his first two years equal or better than the likes of Lance Franklin, West Coast’s Josh Kennedy and former Collingwood star Anthony Rocca, Wallace says that Schache's largely disappointing 2017 season has shown a side to his game that would worry clubs about his future potential.
“Whether it be at the next level down, the NEAFL level or at AFL level, there is a sense that he doesn’t compete. Very similar to what Jack Watts’ circumstances were in the earlier part of his career,” the former AFL coach told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I don’t think that is being really unfair…It’s urgency. The ball, if it is all laces out, that’s all fine and good, he’ll take those opportunities.
“When he has to work, scrap, back himself into packs, really fight for it and hit the contest and get the secondary ball, there are a lot of clubs that just believe he doesn’t fight the fight for you, and he’s not doing it at the next level down either.
“If he is not in tune and mentally right to play, that’ll impact that straight away. It’s a ruthless game. You need to have your mindset absolutely right on.”
Wallace believes clubs are very wary over giving away a “usually bulletproof” first round draft pick in exchange for Schache due to these concerns.
He instead believes that a club will instead offer a second round selection for the young forward in the closing days of the NAB AFL Trade Period, a decision he believes would be the right one to take for the chasing side in what is largely considered to be a shallow draft pool this year.
“It’ll just take a little bit more time next week because I think somebody will come after him with a second rounder,” he said.
“Once you get to picks 25 to 35, all those players once you start to get around that stage deeper into the draft has some foibles.
“I think I’d rather take a risk on somebody who is six foot five or six foot six, who is a thumping kick of the footy, who was a pick two and might have a couple of little issues than go to the draft with that pick.”
The NAB AFL Trade Period ends on Thursday afternoon.