Laurence Schache
Encyclopedia
Laurence Schache was an Australian rules football
er, playing in the Australian Football League
(AFL) with the Brisbane Bears
and the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) with Sturt
, West Torrens
and Woodville-West Torrens.
Born in Hopetoun, Victoria
, Schache was zoned
to the Essendon Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
. He played in the minor grades at Essendon as a forward with some success, which included a haul of 25 goals in an Under-19s match against in Round 22, 1985, but he never managed to play a senior game for Essendon.
Schache moved to Adelaide
in 1988 to play for Sturt before moving to West Torrens in 1989. Schache was drafted by Brisbane as the Number One choice at the 1990 Mid Year AFL National Draft and made his AFL debut for the Bears against Geelong
in Round 4 1991.
Schache played 17 games for Brisbane in 1991, winning the club's Leading Goalkicker award in his first season with 47 goals, including a best return of six goals against Adelaide in Round 14. Schache had a less successful year in 1992, playing 12 games for 17 goals, and subsequently was delisted by Brisbane at the end of the season after 29 games and 64 goals.
Schache returned to South Australia
in 1993 to play for the Woodville West Torrens Eagles (West Torrens having merged with fellow SANFL club Woodville
at the end of 1990). Schache played in the Eagles's first premiership but injured his knee the following year, forcing his retirement.
Schache briefly coached Latrobe Football Club
in Tasmania before returning to Adelaide, where he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis
in July 2002. Initially told he had five years to live, Schache collapsed and died at his home, three months later. He was 34 and left a widow and two children.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, playing in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
and the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) with Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
, West Torrens
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
and Woodville-West Torrens.
Born in Hopetoun, Victoria
Hopetoun, Victoria
Hopetoun is a town which serves as the major service centre for the Southern Mallee area of Victoria, Australia. Hopetoun is situated 400 kilometres north-west of Melbourne on the Henty Highway in the Shire of Yarriambiack...
, Schache was zoned
Zoning (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
to the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He played in the minor grades at Essendon as a forward with some success, which included a haul of 25 goals in an Under-19s match against in Round 22, 1985, but he never managed to play a senior game for Essendon.
Schache moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1988 to play for Sturt before moving to West Torrens in 1989. Schache was drafted by Brisbane as the Number One choice at the 1990 Mid Year AFL National Draft and made his AFL debut for the Bears against Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in Round 4 1991.
Schache played 17 games for Brisbane in 1991, winning the club's Leading Goalkicker award in his first season with 47 goals, including a best return of six goals against Adelaide in Round 14. Schache had a less successful year in 1992, playing 12 games for 17 goals, and subsequently was delisted by Brisbane at the end of the season after 29 games and 64 goals.
Schache returned to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1993 to play for the Woodville West Torrens Eagles (West Torrens having merged with fellow SANFL club Woodville
Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles....
at the end of 1990). Schache played in the Eagles's first premiership but injured his knee the following year, forcing his retirement.
Schache briefly coached Latrobe Football Club
Latrobe Football Club
The Latrobe Football Club is an Australian rules football club which competed in the NWFU between 1910 and 1986. The club has been a playing member of the NTFL since 1987. Latrobe were one of the most successful NWFU clubs and their tally of 12 premierships in a joint record, shared with Burnie and...
in Tasmania before returning to Adelaide, where he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
in July 2002. Initially told he had five years to live, Schache collapsed and died at his home, three months later. He was 34 and left a widow and two children.