AFL trade news: Fremantle looking at Collingwood’s future first-round pick in deal for Lachie Schultz

Fremantle has quickly zeroed in on one particular asset from Collingwood in trade negotiations for Lachie Schultz. But will the Pies be willing to give it up?

Lachie Schultz of the Dockers out marks John Noble of the Magpies during the 2nd qtr. . Pic: Michael Klein

Fremantle is set to zero in on Collingwood’s future first-round draft pick in the Lachie Schultz deal in the hope the Magpies suffer a Geelong-style slide on the back of its premiership triumph.

The Magpies are keen on Schultz to bolster the forward line and have picks 19 and 33 (acquired for the departure of Taylor Adams) in this year’s draft to help seal a deal for the goal kicker in the trade period which ends on Wednesday.

But the wildcard in talks is the Magpies’ future first-round pick which Fremantle is set to target in the hope Craig McRae’s men slide down the ladder next year.

Collingwood is likely to baulk at the proposal to hand over their top pick in next year’s draft and remain prepared to part with pick 19 in this year’s draft.

The last time Collingwood traded a future first-round pick it cost the club pick two in 2021 as the Magpies sunk to second-last on the ladder.

Fremantle are eyeing off a future first-round pick for Lachie Schultz. Picture: Michael Klein

The late nature of Schultz’s trade request has made it almost impossible for Fremantle to seriously target a player on Collingwood’s list to involve in the deal as the bulk of the Magpies’ squad headed away on holidays after the flag win.

The Dockers aren’t interested in livewire Jack Ginnivan, who wants to stay at Collingwood.

However, there is upside in Fremantle having a crack at Collingwood’s first pick in next year’s draft in the chance the Magpies could miss the eight and have a selection in single figures next year.

This season, Geelong dropped from a premiership in 2022 to 12th position in 2023, arming the Cats with pick eight in this year’s draft.

While the Magpies would be confident of having a genuine tilt at back-to-back premierships in 2024, the club does have one of the oldest lists in the competition.

Recruiters have said there is a big drop-off in talent in this year’s draft after pick eight or nine, making selections in the teens less valuable even though they remain first-round choices.

Another early pick in next year’s draft could help bolster Fremantle’s bid to make a play for a prime key forward in 12 months’ time, such as Sydney Swans’ Logan McDonald.

The Dockers need another key forward goal kicker to partner with Jye Amiss and versatile ruck-forward Luke Jackson to help fill a key void in the list build.

Schultz is contracted for another season, meaning the Dockers could hold the small forward to his contract and keep him at the club in 2024.

Schultz is keen to get to Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

Fremantle would prefer to hold on to Schultz but remain open-minded about talks with the Magpies in the hope of securing a favourable deal.

The Dockers traded a future first-round pick to Melbourne to secure gun tall Jackson but that has given the Demons pick six in this year’s draft as Fremantle missed the finals.

Schultz is a key player for the Dockers having finished top-six in the club’s best and fairest in each of the past two seasons, kicking 30 and 33 goals under Justin Longmuir.

Fremantle has been criticised for losing a string of players in recent years including Adam Cerra, Rory Lobb, Blake Acres, Griffin Logue and Liam Henry.

But the club has disputed there is a problem at the club and will eye the Schultz deal as an opportunity to try and turn it into a good result for the Dockers.

Adam Cerra is now a Blue. Picture: Getty Images

After losing Cerra, chief executive Simon Garlick said clubs can get hung up on losing players, rather than seeing the potential positive in a deal.

“I think clubs can get obsessive about maintaining a player at all costs,” Garlick said.

“I don’t know if sometimes that’s based upon not wanting to be seen as a club that loses a player here and there … it’s a really interesting case because the fact that Adam Cerra wanted to leave, we’re really comfortable with the fact it wasn’t based upon something that was occurring at our club.

“As long as you’re doing what you need to do as a club, if someone wants out, I think there is an element of objectivity where you sit there and say, ‘OK, that’s fine, how do we maximise this situation?’

“Rather than potentially compromising where you’re going in the longer term or missing out on an opportunity.

“Essentially the absolute swap (for Cerra) for us is Jye Amiss, because we got that pick and it allowed us to get him and Neil Erasmus, two outstanding young men, local players.

“Jye kicked five in his first WAFL game last week and the Jye Amiss of potentially three, four or five years is exactly what we need.”

“So I think it’s a really interesting concept, certainly when we reflect on it, it might turn out quite good for us.”

Originally published as AFL trade news: Fremantle looking at Collingwood’s future first-round pick in deal for Lachie Schultz