Pies’ shock swoop for Docker Schultz, Duursma’s desire to become a Don

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Just a year after bringing in the player who would go on to win this year’s Norm Smith Medal, the Magpies have again targeted a small forward with Dockers goal sneak Lachie Schultz requesting a trade to the new premiers.

Collingwood last year recruited small forward Bobby Hill and key target Dan McStay to reshape their forward line and this year look to go further with the 25-year-old Docker wanting a move to Victoria.

Lachie Schultz has requested a trade to Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images

The nuggety forward, who has kicked 63 goals in the last two seasons, was to be out of contract at year’s end, but activated a trigger mid-year tying him to the club until the end of 2024. Schultz will be an unrestricted free agent when he comes out of contract at the end of next year as he had previously been delisted and re-listed as a rookie by Fremantle.

Schultz, who turns 26 next month, is a two-time Glendinning-Allan medallist (as the best on ground in the Perth Derby between the Dockers and West Coast) – most recently in round 22 this year when he kicked 5.3 against the Eagles.

In the second half of the year, Collingwood had trouble scoring. Small forward Jack Ginnivan, who had been in and out of the side during the year, was the substitute for the first two finals for the Magpies but came into starting 22 for the grand final.

The move for Schultz comes as the Magpies said they will work with Sydney over vice captain Taylor Adams’ request for a move to the Swans. Adams, who just turned 30, is contracted on more than $600,000 for next year but has been offered a three-year deal to join the swans with the promise of playing permanent midfield.

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein has officially joined Essendon.Credit: Getty Images

“He would have been in our grand final team if he was fit and available [but] obviously, injury kept him out of that,” Collingwood list boss Graham Wright said of Adams.

“He’d like to play more midfield time … in our conversations last week, with ‘Fly’ [Craig McRae] and myself, we were really open about that. We see him as a part of what we’re doing going forward, and obviously he knows that but he still requested a trade.

Brodie Grundy wants to head to Sydney.Credit: Getty Images

“All players have got a right to explore. They’ve got only a certain amount of time in the game … and we’re pretty pragmatic and real about it.”

Wright said they were keen to retain Adams, and that his status as a co-vice-captain and experienced member of their midfield rotation meant the Swans would have to offer something of value in return.

“He’s contracted, so there’s certainly a way that he stays. Our relationship’s really strong with Taylor and we’ve had some good conversations, but he’s requested that trade.”

The Swans have already secured unrestricted free agent pair James Jordon and Joel Hamling, but will need to broker deals to secure not only Adams, but his great mate and former teammate Brodie Grundy.

“We’ve had some very preliminary chats with Melbourne … he’s, obviously, contracted, so we’ve got a bit of work to do, but we’ll get to that this week,” Sydney football boss Charlie Gardiner said of Grundy.

“We’re really pleased that he’s got an interest in coming to Sydney – we think Sydney is a really attractive option for him.”

Gardiner said the Swans were keen to improve their ruck division after Tom Hickey’s retirement.

“That’s something we’ve identified as a priority, and we’ve got a young midfield group that we think he will really add to and provide some experience and leadership,” he said.

Demons list boss Tim Lamb said talks were still in their infancy. He said Grundy had “handled himself magnificently” in tough circumstances at Melbourne as he was left out of the Demons’ finals campaign.

“We acknowledge it was a difficult end to the season for Brodes, but he handled himself magnificently really, for a player of his calibre,” he said.

Meanwhile, in another issue for the premiers, Collingwood’s premiership defender Nathan Murphy will be assessed by an AFL independent concussion panel before being cleared to resume his career.

Murphy was concussed in the first quarter of the grand final and substituted out of the match. He has a long history of concussions through his junior and AFL career from incidents in matches and training.

Collingwood and the AFL have been liaising over Murphy’s condition and the player is now waiting on a date for the medical panel to assess him.

Xavier Duursma wants to join EssendonCredit: Getty Images

On a day of activity to start the official trade window, Essendon also shaped as a significant player with an influx of free agents and Port’s Xavier Duursma requesting a trade to the Bombers.

Port had made it clear to Duursma before the trade period what they would require from a trade if they were to agree to his move to another club, but with Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea, the Western Bulldogs’ Jordon Sweet and, significantly, Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, all wanting to join Port Adelaide, and without a first-round selection in this year’s national draft, Duursma’s departure will help the club facilitate trades.

Todd Goldstein’s move to Essendon was formalised on Monday, while Ben McKay and Jade Gresham will also join as free agents.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said Goldstein’s acquisition was important as senior coach Brad Scott preferred to play two ruckmen.

“The intention is to have a great ruck combination…‘Goldy’s’ still got the opportunity to play league footy. Form will determine it. I don’t think anyone’s got a right over the No.1 ruck spot. If he’s the best going around, and in form, then he’ll get the opportunity,” Dodoro said.

Dodoro confirmed the Bombers will offer McKay a six-year deal, but were unsure whether the offer would trigger band one compensation (pick No.3) to the Kangaroos for losing the free agent. Should the compensation be anything less than tied to their first draft pick, North Melbourne said they would match the offer and force Essendon into a trade. Industry sources, however, expect the Kangaroos to receive pick No.3 as compensation.

Massimo D’Ambrosio has asked for a move to Hawthorn as Essendon ruled out trading Dylan Shiel.

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