On the eve of AFL grand final week Josh Schache has described the past few months as being quite the whirlwind experience.
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From being on the fringe of the senior side, to jetting across the country away from home to finally cementing your spot in the line-up — it's been a roller coaster ride for the Seymour product.
The Western Bulldogs talent said he was still coming to terms with the events that had transpired.
“The past few weeks have been a whirlwind experience with everything that has gone on,” Schache, 24, said.
“It has been difficult being on the road for a month, but I have really enjoyed it.
“But it has been pretty special so far. I feel very grateful to be given the opportunity and to be in this position.
“The support has been awesome from everyone back home (in Seymour).
“It's hard that family and friends can't make it across and be there in person, but I know they will be cheering loudly once next week arrives.
“This will be my first-ever grand final. I never really got the chance to play finals footy growing up, so I'm definitely pinching myself.”
Drafted to the Brisbane Lions and traded to the Kennel in 2017, the road to this week has been a bumpy one for Schache.
After two appearances in the 2020 campaign, the former number two draft pick was unable to forge his way into Luke Beveridge's side this season.
But strong early form in the VFL had the left-footer awarded a spot in the Bulldogs’ round seven loss to Richmond.
Although he hit the scoreboard with a goal, Schache was dropped the following week.
Many pondered if that was the last they had seen of the classy forward.
However, a surprise recall from Beveridge almost three months later lit the spark for what was to come.
Schache was thrust into defence for the round 19 contest — against eventual grand final opponent Melbourne — and wowed with his intercept marking and lockdown role.
The 17-disposal and six-mark game was the second coming of Schache.
Now, more than eight weeks on from that glorious outing, the rejuvenated tall is in the midst of a breakout streak of performances.
And he has timed his hot run to perfection.
Schache has played an influential hand in getting the Bulldogs through to the upcoming decider where they will meet Melbourne at Perth's Optus Stadium.
In his three finals appearances, Schache has booted four goals and become a vital cog in the Bulldogs’ tilt for a third premiership flag.
Reflecting on that period between the Richmond and Melbourne games, Schache said he benefitted greatly with his time at Footscray.
“Midway through the season I was out of the senior team and it can be quite easy to drop your head,” he said.
“But I had the belief that I could perform at the top level and I was confident in my body after a big pre-season.
“And I felt like I was playing good footy in the VFL. That time (in the VFL) was a freshener for me really.
“It was interesting when I got told I would play in the backline because I've never played there before, but I saw it as a really good opportunity. I wasn't nervous, I was more excited about learning a new role.
“Playing as a defender has given me a different look on how to play and I have taken those skills with me even though I'm back playing up forward."
Which he used to perfection in the preliminary final against Port Adelaide.
Positioned up forward, Schache played a defensive role on All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir and curtailed his intercept prowess.
Beveridge praised his side's new swingman post the Doggies’ 71-point shellacking of the Power.
“His ability to compete in the air and reduce Aliir’s intercept, and their whole defence’s intercept game, was outstanding,” the Bulldogs coach said.
Schache said the emotions after the Power triumph were like nothing he had experienced before.
“It was an incredible feeling after the game,” he said.
“We gave them nothing in that first half, but we knew the job wasn't over at half-time. But during that second half, especially in the last quarter, realising you are through to a grand final was a feeling I won't forget.”
Schache, along with hundreds of supporters from the Goulburn Valley, will be hoping for a similar tale come Saturday night.
The former Kings Park native is not the only export from the region on the Bulldogs’ list.
Schache rubs shoulders with Shepparton's Alex Keath, Mooroopna's Laitham Vandermeer and Euroa's Will Hayes.
There will even be a familiar face on the opposition team sheet, one who Schache has close ties with from his school days.
“It's pretty amazing (to have so many of us from the GV),” he said.
“All of us have common interests and we know similar people. Especially me and Keathy, who went to GV Grammar and then Haysey who is from Euroa which is just up the road from Seymour.
“And then Laith and me both know Clarry (Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver), so it will be a fun experience to come up against him.
“I moved to Grammar for VCE and I did those years with Clayton.
“We both played Bushies together and school footy together, so it's pretty surreal to now play in a grand final against each other. I know there will be a few friendly exchanges out on the ground.”
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