QUESTION marks over his competiveness left Josh Schache "pissed off" and determined to prove the doubters wrong.
Three months after crossing to the Western Bulldogs from the Brisbane Lions in the final 30 seconds of the NAB AFL Trade Period, the 20-year-old is relishing life at Whitten Oval and being just an hour's drive from his family in country Victoria.
While he concedes he needs to improve the contested side of his game after being drafted by the Lions with pick No.2 in 2015, the key forward is fiercely determined to show the football world he has an appetite for the hard stuff.
After a unsettled season in Brisbane, Schache eventually moved to the Dogs in exchange for picks No.25 and 40 despite having two years remaining on his contract with the Lions.
"I think I'm competitive, and I was pretty pissed off when I heard I wasn't competitive enough," Schache told AFL.com.au.
"I'm not here to run around the ground and do the little things, I'm here to compete really hard and do what I need to do for the team.
"I want to prove everyone wrong and show that I am competitive."
Much like fellow early pick and new teammate Tom Boyd, Schache has been thrown into the ruck in a bid to improve his physicality and versatility under coach Luke Beveridge's flexibility mantra.
The change of role is paying immediate dividends, with Schache's confidence and conditioning improving considerably just over a month out from the JLT Community Series.
"In match simulation, I've been playing in ruck and trying to develop that side of my game, so I've pretty much half and half between the ruck and up forward," he said.
"I'm down to 95kg at the moment after being over 100kg up in Brisbane, and now I'm running and recovering a lot better.
"Now I need to build on the muscle side of things and make sure I'm harder to move in the contested situation, but I feel like I'm tracking OK in that area.
"It's not an excuse, but I'm up against guys more experienced and a bit heavier than me, so it's something I need to continue to work on."
Schache and Boyd, the 2013 No.1 pick, have discussed the pressures that come with being taken at the pointy end of the draft after both youngsters took time away from the game in 2017 to deal with the burdens that come with being a League footballer.
As well as conditioning his body for the rigours of the game, he also seeks the counsel of club psychologist Lisa Stevens to help him deal with the mental side.
"Lisa has been really good, and I go and see her every now and then," he said.
"She has been really good at helping me on and off the ground - just getting your mind back to the things you need to think about."
With Schache now settled and thriving, he is in a strong position to push for a round-one berth.
He'll vie with Boyd and Jack Redpath for what's likely to be two positions in attack for tall forwards, but the competition for spots has been a big factor in him finding enjoyment in his footy again.
"It was a big drive for me to come to the Dogs and play with those boys," Schache said.
"Just working closely with Boydy and 'Red' has helped with my development.
"I think my kicking, my hands and match awareness are building, so I feel more comfortable with each training session.
"I'm enjoying coming to the club and seeing all the boys each day."
