Freo urged to draw “line in the sand” and play hardball with Pies over Schultz deal

Veteran AFL journalist Mark Duffield isn’t sure whether Fremantle’s Lachie Schultz will get his trade wish to join Collingwood this off-season.

Schultz requested a trade to the reigning premiers on Monday for family reasons, but the Dockers released a statement stating he is a required player.

The 25-year-old has been one of Fremantle’s most consistent performers over the last three years. He kicked 33 goals in 2023 from 23 games before finishing sixth in the club’s Doig Medal count.

After the Dockers lost all of Lloyd Meek, Rory Lobb, Blake Acres, Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker last year, Schultz is the latest Freo player to look elsewhere while Liam Henry has also demanded a trade this off-season.

Having had so many departures recently, Duffield wouldn’t be shocked to see the Dockers draw a line in the sand and keep Schultz given he has a year remaining on his contract.

“It’s going to be interesting to see if this one gets done,” Duffield told SEN Sportsday.

“I think there comes a time for Fremantle where they kind of are going to have to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘This is either a really good deal for us at the trade table or we’re not doing it’.

“The guy has a contract, he’s been a player that they’ve given an opportunity to, and he came from left-field out of the VFL and has become a good player for them.

“He’s finished top 10 in their best and first three years in a row, so it’s going to be interesting to see how the Dockers tackle this one.

“They’ve had a series of departures over the last two seasons, and it’s been a bit destabilising for a club that we thought was on the rise 12 months ago.”

Duffield rates Schultz above all of Fremantle’s small forwards and he thinks the 25-year-old is a player the Dockers can ill-afford to lose cheaply as a result.

“If you look at their small forwards, Lachie Schultz is durable, he is consistent, he kicked 33 goals last year, he’s always good for around the 30 (goal) mark, he always competes,” Duffield said.

“If you look at their other small forwards, Michael Walters is 32 and starting to get calf muscle injuries. Sam Switkowski is a good player but hasn’t shown himself to be durable.

“Sam Sturt is promising and has upside, but still has a fair way to go before he’s operating at the level that Lachie Schultz is operating that.

“You have to say that Lachie Schultz has clearly heard of someone like Bailey Banfield.”

Duffield expects the Dockers to target a first-round pick from Collingwood in trade talks.

Currently, the Magpies are armed with pick 18 in this year’s draft, but that selection looks set to slide once free agency compensation and Academy bids are finalised.

As a result, Duffield thinks the Dockers should target a future first-rounder from the Magpies in hopes that they slide down the ladder somewhat after their 2023 premiership.

“I would have thought that Fremantle will be telling Collingwood, ‘This has to be a first-round draft pick, and if it can’t be a first-round draft pick, it can’t be done’,” Duffield said.

“I’d be tempted to go for a future first-rounder because I think pick 18, as we know is going to be pick 22 or 23 by the time the Academy picks and their bids are matched inside the top 20.

“I would have thought that you maybe take a bit of a punt on Collingwood sliding a little bit trying to defend their premiership and try and get a future first for next year.”

Duffield thinks the Dockers would be better off keeping Schultz unless they can get a pick inside the top 20 in return. He also believes there’s a good chance no arrangement is made unless Freo feels they can win the deal.

“I think it’s too early to tell (if the trade happens),” Duffield said.

“If I was Fremantle, I’d be inclined to say it doesn’t get done unless they feel that there’s a really good chance they win on the deal.

“By getting a win on the deal I would say would be a pick inside 20.

“If you’re not getting that, you’re better off making him honour the contract, I would have thought given everything else that’s unfolded.”

Schultz becomes an unrestricted free agent once his contract expires with Fremantle as he was previously delisted by the club.