Brisbane youngster Josh Schache admits constant speculation about his AFL playing future has been tough to deal with.
But he did little to quell that conjecture on Monday when he stopped short of pledging his future to the club that drafted him second overall in 2015.
"I'm enjoying my time at the Brisbane Lions, I'll work with my manager and see how things go," Schache told Channel Nine's Footy Classified.
"I'm very thankful for what the club's been able to do for me, my family and working closely with my management.
"I couldn't say anything bad about the Brisbane Lions, they've been awesome supporting me through this time with the family and I couldn't thank them enough."
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The Lions allowed Schache leave to return to his home town of Seymour, in Victoria, after he was dropped and put in a disinterested performance in the reserves.
"It has been a little bit tough (obviously) I'd be lying if (I said) it wasn't tough," Schache said.
"That's why it's been good to get back for a little bit and then get the second half of the year under way."
Schache denied he had used the trip to Victoria to visit with potential suitor clubs.
The 19-year-old played 17 games in his first season at Brisbane but was dropped after kicking just six goals in six games this year.
Despite his troubles, rival clubs are still sold on the 199cm key forward's potential.
But Schache said neither he nor his management were responsible for the media speculation about his future.
"I think a lot of the speculation (that has) been going through the media has been blown up out of nowhere," he said.
"(My manager) hasn't been shopping me, he hasn't been doing anything wrong so the stuff that's been going on - it's been pretty hard to believe with what the media has been saying."
