THE WESTERN Bulldogs were crying out for goals, their scoring power was diminished, and Josh Schache was playing in the VFL.

However, the former Brisbane Lion says he felt no pressure building his form at a lower level before breaking into the Bulldogs' senior side in recent weeks.

Schache, who played 27 games for the Lions in his two seasons at the club, returned to his home state last off-season to join the Dogs.

After a calf injury interrupted his start to the season, the key forward picked up his form in the VFL before making his first appearance for the Dogs in round 10.

Schache has now played three senior games for the club, including last week's promising 15-disposal and one-goal effort against Port Adelaide, and says he didn't feel any extra expectations to be selected.

"[There wasn't] too much. I talked to the coaches and other players and I was really just settling in. It wasn't something I focused on as a negative thing, I took it as a positive thing and it was really good to get back out there," Schache told AFL.com.au this week.

The injury on the eve of the season was a setback for Schache after what had been a smooth summer at the Dogs. But the 20-year-old saw it as a chance to improve in other areas.

"Getting through the whole pre-season without an injury and then getting a little niggle early on in the season was a little frustrating. But I really thought it was a good opportunity to get myself right and see other blokes in the rehab and see what that area is around the football club," he said.

Schache was drafted by the Lions as a marking forward target who had shown at under-18 level he could roam up and down the ground and use his endurance to work over his man.

He was also a prodigiously talented goalkicker, booting an all-time record 24 goals during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2015.

He re-signed with the Lions last year but remained a trade target for Victorian clubs, and joined the Dogs after they swapped picks 25 and 40 for him in a last-minute trade period deal.

Schache said he had enjoyed being closer to his family since returning to Melbourne.

"I loved my time up there in the last two years. Being at the Dogs now I'm really looking forward to the years ahead here at the Western Bulldogs," he said.

"I couldn't thank Brisbane enough for the last two years, but looking forward now with the Dogs I'm really excited about what this group can do and I'm really enjoying it.

"It's only about an hour and a bit back to Seymour from where I'm living at the moment, so I get back there most weekends and it is really good. I've got friends down here as well, and everyone at the club has been really supportive."

Schache is building chemistry with Tom Boyd as the Bulldogs' leading big men, finding the No.1 2013 draft pick helpful on the field in directing him where to be and how best to get involved in games. With every outing, Schache feels he is doing more of that.

"I feel more comfortable each week I'm out there. I want to do the part for the team and as a team hopefully we can string together a few more good games and improve on the back of that," he said.

"It hasn't really gone to plan this far into the season, but as a club we're really looking forward to this second half of the year and we can make improvements along the way."