Their journey to Fremantle’s clash with Brisbane on Saturday may have been different but Freo defender Sam Collins is looking forward to lining up on highly touted young forward Josh Schache.
 
Collins and Schache were both taken in last year’s national draft but their path to the AFL was far from similar.
 
The young Brisbane forward was championed throughout the draft process as the best forward of the crop and was selected with the number two pick, while Collins toiled away in the VFL for three years before being selected with pick 56 at the age of 21.
 
However, Collins isn’t paying any attention to draft history ahead of this week’s clash with Brisbane and is looking forward to facing off with the key forward.
 
“He’s been playing some good footy and I’m really looking forward to having a crack at him at some stage,” Collins said.

Collins answers the call
 
“I just have to focus on getting my body right during the week, have a look at what he does best and work on what I can from there.”
 
While a key forwards transition to the AFL can often be a difficult one, Schache has performed admirably so far with eight goals from 10 games and could have had more if not for some inaccuracy issues as he’s also kicked 12 behinds.
 
Schache presents a physical challenge and Collins said he was looking forward to learning from the contest with the 198cm, 98kg forward.
 
“Obviously as many key forwards as I can play on is going to be best for me in terms of my education and getting better as a defender.”