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  1. #1
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    How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

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    Justin Leppitsch has pinpointed how reborn defender Josh Schache can fortify his game, and anchor the Western Bulldogs’ back six as they tilt at a second premiership in six seasons.

    Swung back for the Dogs’ Round 19 meeting with Melbourne, the former No. 2 selection was instantly put under the pump by a hamstring injury to defensive linchpin Alex Keath.

    Schache thrived, recording 17 possessions, nine intercepts and two contested marks in a 20 point win, and backed it up with eight marks and five intercepts against Adelaide on Saturday.

    Leppitsch believes the nucleus of a long-term defender is there, and Luke Beveridge and the Dogs’ development coaches can now invest further in the ex-Lion’s craft.

    “He’s staying there, and I’m giving him some extra training,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

    “As far as a starting point for training goes, just the hand-to-hand combat component.

    “It’s a little bit of grappling style, almost like an NFL player would do, (like) a lineman with a lot of that pushing and shoving and probing.

    “(Just) getting best position and getting your opposition out of the way without giving away a free kick.”

    Schache led former Crows captain Taylor Walker to the ball more often than not, and even held his own in a couple of physical contests, but he was twice outmarked when isolated.

    “It’s one of the great skills a key position player can have,” Leppitsch continued.

    “Just keep training him up in that space, because the few he was beaten on, he just wasn’t handsy enough to own best position.”

    Keath and Ryan Gardner, the pillars in the Dogs’ first-choice defensive pairing earlier in the season, are unavailable for 2-3 weeks and 1-2 weeks respectively.

    Lewis Young is available for selection but can’t match Schache for continuity in the role, having been rotated through other positions.

    Zaine Cordy has lined up in the Bulldogs’ back six in every game from Round 6, but slender with strong closing speed, he is best deployed as a second defender.

    A return to the backline for Aaron Naughton has long been speculated, but the 21-year-old has booted 37 goals in 18 games.

    Moreover, Naughton was sidelined under concussion protocols for the Round 17 loss to the Swans, and the Dogs’ movement and forward structure was much poorer for his absence.

    Schache will therefore have every chance to cement his place behind the ball, and attempt to answer the one lingering doubt around the ladder-leaders’ first team.

    “You’ve got no choice in a lot of ways, but there’s enough there to work with, he had enough positives,” the former Richmond assistant concluded.

    The Dogs will defend top spot from a surging Geelong when they host Essendon at Marvel Stadium from 3:20pm on Sunday afternoon.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

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  3. #2
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    Must be nice for Josh to hear/read that. Just keep improving your craft Josh.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  4. #3
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    It’s good to hear Leppitsch is supportive. Sounds like a coach who always wants to get the best out of players
    josh is in good hands
    Did he really hold walker’s hand?

  5. #4
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    Can we get Leppa on the coaching panel!??!
    Listening to Brahm's 3rd Racket

  6. #5
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
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    Justin Leppitsch has pinpointed how reborn defender Josh Schache can fortify his game, and anchor the Western Bulldogs’ back six as they tilt at a second premiership in six seasons.

    Swung back for the Dogs’ Round 19 meeting with Melbourne, the former No. 2 selection was instantly put under the pump by a hamstring injury to defensive linchpin Alex Keath.

    Schache thrived, recording 17 possessions, nine intercepts and two contested marks in a 20 point win, and backed it up with eight marks and five intercepts against Adelaide on Saturday.

    Leppitsch believes the nucleus of a long-term defender is there, and Luke Beveridge and the Dogs’ development coaches can now invest further in the ex-Lion’s craft.

    “He’s staying there, and I’m giving him some extra training,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

    “As far as a starting point for training goes, just the hand-to-hand combat component.

    “It’s a little bit of grappling style, almost like an NFL player would do, (like) a lineman with a lot of that pushing and shoving and probing.

    “(Just) getting best position and getting your opposition out of the way without giving away a free kick.”

    Schache led former Crows captain Taylor Walker to the ball more often than not, and even held his own in a couple of physical contests, but he was twice outmarked when isolated.

    “It’s one of the great skills a key position player can have,” Leppitsch continued.

    “Just keep training him up in that space, because the few he was beaten on, he just wasn’t handsy enough to own best position.”

    Keath and Ryan Gardner, the pillars in the Dogs’ first-choice defensive pairing earlier in the season, are unavailable for 2-3 weeks and 1-2 weeks respectively.

    Lewis Young is available for selection but can’t match Schache for continuity in the role, having been rotated through other positions.

    Zaine Cordy has lined up in the Bulldogs’ back six in every game from Round 6, but slender with strong closing speed, he is best deployed as a second defender.

    A return to the backline for Aaron Naughton has long been speculated, but the 21-year-old has booted 37 goals in 18 games.

    Moreover, Naughton was sidelined under concussion protocols for the Round 17 loss to the Swans, and the Dogs’ movement and forward structure was much poorer for his absence.

    Schache will therefore have every chance to cement his place behind the ball, and attempt to answer the one lingering doubt around the ladder-leaders’ first team.

    “You’ve got no choice in a lot of ways, but there’s enough there to work with, he had enough positives,” the former Richmond assistant concluded.

    The Dogs will defend top spot from a surging Geelong when they host Essendon at Marvel Stadium from 3:20pm on Sunday afternoon.
    Wait what, I’ve liked Leppa’s media work this year but his comment about Cordy posessing strong closing speed has me baffled.

  7. #6
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    Quote Originally Posted by Mitcha View Post
    Wait what, I’ve liked Leppa’s media work this year but his comment about Cordy posessing strong closing speed has me baffled.
    The author said that. But you’re right…
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  8. #7
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    Re: How the dogs can supercharge josh schache's game

    Hi closing speed is ok but his reaction and positioning is slow.
    Cordy is often too far away from his opponent because he is ball watching, and by the time he has gone he is 10 meters behind.


    On Schache and his weakness in 1-1 contests, i don't see how you can improve it, it was his Achilles heal as a forward, and it seems to be the same as a defender. He looked poor against Essendon when Peter Wright came floating in.
    Josh just isn't a physical player, you can't turn a basset hound into a bull terrier.

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