The Brisbane Lions planned to tie up Josh Schache to a lengthy deal long before the highly-rated draftee arrived at the club.
The Lions are reportedly prepared to offer the young key forward a five-year deal despite him having not played an AFL game.
The Victorian, who was taken at pick No.2 in the draft, has impressed in his first pre-season with his goalkicking accuracy and ability to get the better of more experienced defenders in practice.
He kicked four goals in a recent intraclub scratch match.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann, who neither confirmed nor denied the five-year-deal, said the process of retaining Schache began early.
"We'd already spoken about that before he'd even got here," he told SEN.
"(They're) very hard to come by, good key forwards.
"So if we've got one, which we think we do, we'd like to keep him as long as we could."
Schache's talent isn't lost on captain Tom Rockliff either, who recognises his value to the club's bid to climb up the ladder.
"He's as good an 18-year-old player as I've ever seen," he told SEN.
"I would have given him a 15-year contract.
"He's only an 18-year-old, but it's going to be so good to watch him when he's a 23, 24-year-old."
Swann also addressed reports coach Justin Leppitsch would be offered a one-year contract extension, saying the deal was as good as done, pending approval by the club's board.
Share
