Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says it is “borderline ridiculous” young players like Josh Schache are forced to make decisions over their future so early in their careers.
Teenager Schache has been dropped for Saturday night’s clash against Adelaide and Fagan admitted increasing speculation over where he might play next year has probably contributed to a drop-off in form.
Fagan argued for an extension of draftee contracts from the current mandatory two years to either three or four years, except when extenuating circumstances arise.
“To be thinking about your future two years into a start at a new place and whether you want to go somewhere else is borderline ridiculous,” Fagan told reporters on Friday.
“Obviously as a 19-year-old boy if they are the things he’s thinking about, that must be tough.
“There are probably lots of conversations and things that go on that we don’t get to hear about that may well put pressure on them. That’s the world we live in.
“Clubs invest a lot in those first round picks and if you’ve got the opportunity to keep them for longer … that would be fantastic.
“I would imagine from an AFL Players Association perspective, they like the angle of free trade and the ability of players to move and they would probably not like that.”
Schache was the second pick at the 2015 draft and is viewed by the Lions as their long-term tall forward solution.
His late father Laurence played for Brisbane in the late 1990s and it was hoped that connection would keep him at the club, stemming the flow of draftee departures the Lions have experienced in recent years.
But he is reportedly being tracked by a host of Victorian clubs, including Richmond, Carlton and Collingwood.
Brisbane are expecting an answer from Schache on his future during their bye week at the start of June.
Fagan described him as an “honest young man” and said he accepted the reasons why he was dropped.
“What’s happened to Josh is what’s happened to a lot of young forwards over as many years as I can remember,” he said.
“That is they do lose their confidence and form sometimes and the best thing for them is to actually go back to the reserves and re-find it.
“I saw that at Hawthorn in early days, (Lance) Franklin and (Jarryd) Roughead had to do that on occasions.”
Steve009
Roar Rookie
If they get a high draft pick for Scache, they are 2 years down on the development they have put into him and judging by recent history are likely to find themselves in the same position 2 years down the track with the new high draft pick.
Steve009
Roar Rookie
The moment Scache was drafted to Brisbane his manager would have been talking to Melbourne clubs. The manager would also have been telling Scache not to extend the 2 year contract because of how much he'd be worth on potential alone in a bidding war between Brisbane and Melbourne clubs when his initial contract expires.
Paul D
Roar Guru
There's isn't a quick one. But completion of a new training facility & an extra year on the initial minimum contract length wouldn't hurt.
Nineteen
Guest
What do you think the solution is Paul?
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Paul, the lad has not shown enough to suggest he is worth the amounts being thrown around. If he wants the big dollars then he needs to show he is worth it. I would think all the BS is coming from his manager and I expect/hope he stays at the Lions. The Lions would want to be well compensated if he did leave but it will be hard to demand top picks if he is playing in the NEAFL. If in the end if he does go I hope the Lions make it as hard as possible for him to dictate where he wants to go.
George
Guest
Until new training and admin facility is built I don't see too much change. So probably 2 more years to go of the same. The best Lions can do is to create best environment possible on and off the field and it looks like Fagan and Noble are trying hard. Not all gloom as for example Berry agreed to extend his contract and he looks like a real deal. You got some very good forwards stock so getting high pick for Schache will strengthen other positions. And they should get rid of Rich if somebody would want him. Terrible example for young guys.
Margaret
Guest
Maguire called Nick Davis "not an admirable person" when he went home but when Darren Jolly went home the Swans dealt him to \Collingwood. Remember when the centre 4 from Collingwood were all from other clubs Buckley, Licuria , Lions player and someone else. When Franklin left for Sydney, McGuire said he should have gone to a lesser Melbourne club but Collingwood would have the most players from other clubs in the AFL. Aish, Dunn, White, Treloar, Adams,etc
BlueBags
Guest
So Eddie Mcguire thinks the academies are an indulgence, so if a player if born/played in QLD , NSW. WA, SA , and drafted to Collywobbles in next 5 years and wanted to leave it is an outrage! More will Lions/Swans/GWS/Gold Coast draft there own for his this very reason so as to get rid of the" Go Home" BS that has gone before. If you want a strong Asutralia Wide comp stop thinking solely "home 4 states" NSW & QLD have more to give than what you think, If you give them a chance.
Paul D
Roar Guru
What you and Arky both seem ignorant of is that the Lions did offer longer contracts and were knocked back in favour of the minimum deal by the players. They're not obliged to sign anything beyond 2 years.
Cat
Roar Guru
I think the point Arky was trying to make is some clubs offer freshly drafted players initial 3 or 4 year deals instead of the mandatory minimum 2 year deals. Perhaps AFL need 'arbitration years' like MLB has.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Bit hard when we don't even get the chance to sign them to 3 or 4 year contracts because they leave straight away "it's because of Brisbane" - honestly, sod off. Of course it is, but Schache knew full well the state of the club when he was drafted, said he wanted to come here to finish off what his dad started, but now his managers are shopping him round to Melbourne clubs at $700,000 for 5 years - what are you proposing we should do? Pay $800,000 to keep him? Hogtie him to a chair and refuse to untie him until he signs? It's easy to sit back and slag off the Lions culture but what chance do we have to fix it when all our elite young draft talent keeps walking out before the rebuild can finish? It's two steps forwards, 3 steps backwards at times.
Arky
Guest
This is why most clubs voluntarily sign their promising youngsters to 3 or 4 year contracts as soon as they get them in the door. 2 years is just the minimum contract required. VERY few top draftees leave their clubs after 2 years. Tom Scully was a special case due to GWS being allowed to poach players from the existing clubs as part of their start-up concessions (and also due to Melbourne being so extremely dire at the time). If Brisbane loses Schache so early it's because of Brisbane, not because of ridiculous contracts.