Pies lock in Schultz as Freo pair head east

Two key pieces of this year’s trade period puzzle fell into place on Monday with ex-Dockers Lachie Schultz and Liam Henry finding new clubs in Victoria.

Collingwood handed over their future first-round pick – after wanting to trade this year’s instead – as well as the No.34 selection they received from Sydney for Taylor Adams, to secure small forward Schultz.

Lachie Schultz has secured his trade to Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images

The 25-year-old kicked 63 goals across the past two seasons, and averaged more than four tackles a game this year, as he prepares to join a mosquito fleet of Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, Jamie Elliott, and Jack Ginnivan.

Schultz, who has played 90 games since Fremantle plucked him from VFL club Williamstown in 2018, reached a contract trigger for next year in round 13, but requested a trade to the Pies at the start of last week.

“The Dockers gave me my first football opportunity, and I will be forever grateful for my time there. I would not be the player I am today without the support of the football staff and players,” Schultz said.

“Family is important to me and one of the reasons I have decided to make the move back to Victoria. There is something special about the Pies – they have experienced ultimate success – and this is something I hope to one day be a part of. I am excited to pull on the black and white stripes next year.”

Henry, who enjoyed a breakout 2023 campaign, landed at St Kilda soon after, with the Saints holding firm on not giving up picks 13 or 21 – the latter the free agency compensation for Essendon recruit Jade Gresham.

St Kilda list boss Stephen Silvagni offloaded their future second-round selection as the major piece in the Henry swap, while they and Fremantle also exchanged future fourth-round picks.

The trade completes the story between Henry and Silvagni, who bid on the talented West Australian wingman with the No.9 pick of the 2019 draft while he was still in charge of Carlton’s list.

“I loved my time at the Dockers. They made my childhood dreams come true, which I’m very grateful for, but I felt like the time was right to make a change,” Henry said. “I’m really keen to just dig into pre-season and do my best to contribute to the team.”

The Dockers offered former Hawk Tyler Brockman a four-year deal in a last-ditch attempt to change his mind after Schultz’s trade request, in a move that Hawthorn hoped might also see them re-enter the Henry race.

However, the Hawks traded Brockman to West Coast for picks 44 and 63 on Saturday.

The only other trade on Monday involved out-of-contract Tiger Bigoa Nyuon becoming a Kangaroo in a deal that netted Richmond pick 65. Nyuon, 22, is a 197-centimetre swingman who can also play in the ruck, but most likely shapes as a defender at North Melbourne.

Two sources familiar with negotiations were hopeful a trade that would involve Paddy Dow joining St Kilda and Nick Coffield landing at the Western Bulldogs would get done on Monday, but those discussions will carry over into Tuesday.

Essendon could be the circuit-breaker in the potential trade, with ongoing haggling involving the Saints’ pick 56 and the Bulldogs’ No.40.

Liam Henry is headed to the Saints.Credit: Getty Images

There is significant intrigue surrounding Port Adelaide, who still have to broker trades for Esava Ratugolea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher – who is adamant he does not want to return to the Bombers – and Jordon Sweet.

The Power have not given up on prising Ivan Soldo out of Richmond, although the Tigers told the Soldo camp and Port that the contracted big man, who will be an unrestricted free agent next year, is a required player and will not be traded.

Power list manager Jason Cripps’ only deal so far this fortnight was turning their future first-round selection into a pair of second-rounders in a trade with Fremantle to give them more assets to work with.

Xavier Duursma, who is contracted for 2024, wants to get to Essendon, which could unlock the Zerk-Thatcher deal, but the Bombers are unwilling at this stage to offer a draft pick on top.

Hawthorn are another club to watch with interest as they eye off Gold Coast forward-ruck Mabior Chol and Essendon dasher Massimo D’Ambrosio, while the Jack Gunston situation continues to bubble away in the background.

Another Sun, Elijah Hollands, the No.7 pick in the 2020 draft, could follow his younger brother Ollie to Carlton as soon as Tuesday, but there is no progress between Adelaide and Melbourne on Shane McAdam.

Others still hoping to switch clubs include Jacob Koschitzke, Jack Billings and Elliott Himmelberg, but it is increasingly unlikely the latter will join his brother Harry at the Giants by Wednesday night.

For daily updates on all the AFL trade period action, sign up for our Real Footy newsletter.