Three-time Brisbane premiership player Jonathan Brown has urged the Lions to reward underperforming No.2 draft pick Josh Schache with a lucrative AFL contract extension.
Speculation over the 19-year-old Victorian's future has mounted since he was dropped to the NEAFL where he managed just four disposals in a dispirited display at the weekend.
Schache made 17 senior appearances in his debut AFL season last year, but was dropped by new coach Chris Fagan after averaging just 8.5 disposals in six games this campaign.
Despite his indifferent form, the 199cm key forward's potential is undoubted, with Richmond believed to be one of the club's intent on luring him home at the end of the season.
If he were to leave Schache would join top picks like Sam Docherty, Elliot Yeo, Billy Longer and Jared Polec in departing the Lions in recent years.
When asked if Brisbane should match a purported $700,000 a year deal from rival clubs to secure Schache's future, Brown was unequivocal.
"Yes, because you've got to break the cycle. You can't have these players leaving ... pay them the money and keep them happy," Brown told Fox Footy's On The Couch.
"It seems like a happy club there and they've got to pay it to someone. That might be the going rate.
"Brisbane cannot be seen as a destination where (first-round) players can just walk out because we know first-round draft picks, they've virtually got free agency because they can leave.
"At the end of the day, $600,000 probably gets it done."
But Brown added that a big money offer would make little difference if Schache has already decided his playing future lies elsewhere.
"If he is so homesick and he definitely doesn't want to play in Brisbane well, a million bucks probably doesn't get it done," he said.
"It comes back to the psyche of the kid - if he's happy there and it's where he wants to play ... I'm confident they'll be having a crack at keeping him."
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