DONE DEAL: Collingwood and Fremantle agree on deal for Lachie Schultz – AFL trade news

Collingwood have added further forward class to an already premiership-level list after acquiring Lachie Schultz in a trade with Fremantle.

The 25-year-old forward announced his intention to move last Monday as the trade period kicked off, selecting Collingwood as his club of choice.

Being their most prolific goal-kicker with 63 majors in the past two seasons, Fremantle were disheartened by the trade request and wanted more than Collingwood’s reported offer of Pick 19 in the upcoming draft.

After more than a week of negotiations, the two clubs have settled on selection of Pick 34 and the Magpies’ 2024 first-round selection in a deal for Schultz.

Fremantle’s disappointment was made evident by a desperate four-year deal tabled to former Hawk Tyler Brockman as a small-forward replacement.

But the 20-year-old speedster agreed to terms with cross-town rival West Coast, leaving the Dockers with a front pocket hole to be filled alongside Sam Switkowski and Michael Frederick, while Michael Walters plays out his final seasons.

The Magpies suddenly boast one of the most dangerous medium-small forward brigades in the league, adding to a list with their Norm Smith medallist, Bobby Hill, beside clutch star Jamie Elliott and explosive pressure player Beau McCreery.

Despite the loss of Taylor Adams to Sydney, Collingwood aren’t gunning for any more major deals in the trade period, and without a significant draft hand this year, appear settled on their list heading into 2024.

The Dockers seem troubled, losing Liam Henry to the Saints and Schultz to the Pies without the like-for-like player compensation potentially needed for them to improve in 2024, which is Justin Longmuir’s contract year.

The trade period caps off a down year for Fremantle, as they enter next season as one of the teams under the most pressure to perform.

The Dockers now sit with a trio of first-round selections for 2024, having already held their own and Port Adelaide’s following a trade with the Power earlier this off-season.

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Fremantle are reportedly after Collingwood’s 2024 first-round draft selection in a deal that would see Lachie Schultz’s desire to return to Victoria come to fruition.

Schultz is said to have a five-year offer on the table from the Magpies, who have acted quickly to get access to the contracted Dockers forward following his request to depart Cockburn.

Given the 25-year-old’s contract status, Fremantle could hold the sharpshooting attacker to his deal if the right offer isn’t presented by the Magpies, whom the Dockers are open to listening to despite wanting to keep Schultz.

On Thursday it was revealed that Collingwood had put forward Pick 19 for this year’s draft to the Dockers for the Williamstown product, with a further draft selection – likely a 2024 second-round pick – also potentially involved.

The Dockers are instead said to be eyeing the Magpies’ future first-round pick, with The Herald Sun reporting that Collingwood are unlikely to be open to that deal.

Pick 19 for this year could be pushed back several spots in November’s draft given the range of expected Academy and father-son bids that could fall in the first round.

Next year’s draft is also a strong chance of being impacted early, with Adelaide and Carlton both having access to respective well-rated father-son prospects Tyler Welsh and Camporeale brothers Ben and Liam.

The Suns, who are likely to match three Academy bids in the opening round this year, may also have another pathways graduate near the top of next year’s haul in Leonardo Lombard.

The last time the Magpies traded away their future first-round selection was in 2020, with the club falling to 17th on the ladder a year later to see the Giants have the second earliest pick in the draft in their place.

The Dockers would be hoping the Magpies face a similar fate in 2024 with their interest in the club’s future first-round selection, despite Craig McRae leading his side to the premiership last month.

Geelong fell to 12th this season after reaching the summit 12 months ago and will now enter the draft eighth in line.

If they need to please the Magpies in their pursuit of the future selection, Fremantle could add in a selection of their own along with Schultz to get a deal over the line. The Dockers currently hold Picks 45, 59 and 63 for this year’s draft, and are likely to add to their hand via the expected departure of Liam Henry to St Kilda.

Fremantle also have Port Adelaide’s future first-round selection following a trade earlier this week that saw them give up Pick 24 and their own second-round selection for 2024.