Collingwood in line to add sharpshooter as Dockers confirm trade request: AFL trade news

Fremantle has confirmed that contracted forward Lachie Schultz is exploring interest from Collingwood, despite having triggered an extension just four months ago.

The Dockers confirmed in June that Schultz had automatically extended his deal with the club by appearing in Fremantle’s Round 13 clash with Richmond, meeting a games trigger in his contract.

Fremantle had also flagged a desire to potentially extend the small forward beyond his ties to the end of 2024, with Schultz having been of interest to clubs from Victoria in the past.

Despite being signed for the next 12 months due to the recent trigger, Schultz is understood to be weighing up interest from Collingwood.

Fremantle confirmed Schultz’s trade exploration via X late Monday afternoon.

“Lachie Schultz has today enquired about the possibility of returning to Victoria for family reasons,” stated the Dockers.

The shock revelation was initially reported by 7 News reporter Mitch Cleary, with SEN’s Sam Edmund adding that Schultz had requested a move to Collingwood.

The Magpies, who secured their record-equalling 16th premiership over a week ago, would significantly add to their already-potent forward third with a move for the former Williamstown forward.

Schultz has booted 85 goals over the past three seasons as Fremantle’s leading small forward target.

Collingwood is already home to attacking trio Bobby Hill, Jamie Elliott, Beau McCreery and Jack Ginnivan, with the former claiming the 2023 Norm Smith Medal for his four-goal performance against Brisbane.

The Magpies currently hold picks 18, 37 and 78 for this year’s draft and will likely add to their hand across the next week with the impending loss of Taylor Adams, who is seeking a move to Sydney.

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The arrival of sharpshooting small forward Lachie Schultz was said to be unlikely to impact the immediate future of Collingwood’s Jack Ginnivan, but the small forward has reportedly requested a trade away from Olympic Park.

The maligned Magpie was seen as a key piece in the club’s plans moving into 2024 as they prepare to defend their premiership, with Ginnivan and others facing further selection competition in Craig McRae’s attacking third with the incoming Schultz.

Norm Smith Medal winner Bobby Hill ended his first season in the black and white on a high with a four-goal haul against the Lions in the grand final, while Jamie Elliott and Beau McCreery will also be vying for starting spots come Round 1 next year.

Ginnivan was brought into the starting side for the season decider after serving as the sub throughout September, with his place in the pecking order and Collingwood’s move for Schultz raising questions over a potential move this off-season.

The 20-year-old, who is under contract, wasn’t a player Collingwood had placed on the trade table at any point this trade period, with football boss Graham Wright saying on Monday that he isn’t fielding calls from potentially interested suitors.

Speaking on Trade Radio, Wright said Ginnivan is a required player for 2024 and hasn’t been linked to their player movement plans.

“I haven’t taken any calls about that. We haven’t sought to take calls either,” Wright said when questioned on Ginnivan’s future.

“From our perspective, it hasn’t been an issue at all. We see Jack as a part of what we’re doing. He’s contracted next year.

“We haven’t taken any calls at all.”

According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, “multiple clubs” were of the belief that Collingwood are open to trading Ginnivan, with Hawthorn viewed as a club pushing for the young forward.

Edmund has suggested Ginnivan is expected to meet with the Hawks as early as Tuesday, with the Waverley club potentially looking to fill the void recently opened by Tyler Brockman’s departure to West Coast.

“Multiple clubs say this afternoon that Collingwood is now open to trading Jack Ginnivan,” Edmund told Trade Radio on Tuesday.

“Multiple clubs that we’ve spoken to over the course of the last half an hour or so now say that it’s been made clear to them that Collingwood would consider trading Jack Ginnivan, only obviously if the right offer presented itself.”

A further report from The Herald Sun has suggested that a trade request has been lodged by Ginnivan’s management John Meesen, who is exploring interest from the Hawks.

It is expected that the Magpies will meet with Hawthorn to try and finalise a deal for Ginnivan prior to Wednesday’s 7:30pm (AEDT) deadline.

The Magpies settled an agreement with Fremantle on Monday afternoon to sign Schultz on a four-year deal, with the Dockers receiving Pick 34 and Collingwood’s 2024 first-round selection for the 25-year-old.

The trade was likely Collingwood’s last piece of business before Wednesday’s deadline, having already dealt midfielder Taylor Adams to Sydney last week.

While Wright wouldn’t rule out a last-minute move, he admitted any further wheeling and dealing would be unlikely.