Magpie Lachie Schultz details key reason for shock trade request

“That was a massive incentive to come across.”

Marquee Collingwood recruit Lachie Schultz has detailed his reasoning for his shock trade request away from Fremantle in favour of the Magpies.

Schultz made the surprising decision to opt for a move away from Cockburn in October, despite being contracted at Fremantle for a further season.

The 25-year-old, a Victorian native, plied his trade at VFL stalwart Williamstown before being afforded his professional opportunity with the Dockers; drafted by the Western Australian club with Pick 57 at the 2018 National Draft.

“This (Victoria) is home for me – to be able to get home to friends and family, and my partner Maddie is also from here, so for us both to be able to come home is a great opportunity,” Schultz stated Friday at Collingwood’s Olympic Park headquarters.

“It feels very cool actually, it’s a little bit surreal but it’s a privilege, I’m very happy to be here.

“[Collingwood’s] a great club, a great history … it’s a special time to be involved in the club and obviously the supporter base is the best in the AFL and the most passionate fans in the AFL, so that was a massive incentive to come across.”

Schultz cited Fremantle’s 2022 semi-final defeat to the Magpies at a packed-out MCG while explaining his admiration for the club’s raucous fanbase.

“I remember the Collingwood chant really clearly, there [were] about 93,000 people (there) and 92,000 were Collingwood fans,” he continued.

“The brand of footy the Pies play, I’m pretty excited to be involved, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Schultz, renowned during his Dockers tenure as a pressuring forward with a strong capability to hit the scoreboard, hopes to bring his “brand” to Olympic Park in 2024.

“(I will) try and bring my brand to the forward line and hopefully have an impact straight away,” Schultz added.

“I base my game on my pressure, I think (it’s) where everything starts, for me it’s something I can control the whole time.

“If I can have a good pressure game … it sets me up with everything else, the offensive side comes from that.”

While they added Schultz, the Magpies also offloaded multiple assets during October’s player movement period; farewelling veteran midfielder Taylor Adams and flag-winning forward Jack Ginnivan to the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn, respectively.

Now, Collingwood’s attention turns to the National Draft, where it enters proceedings at No. 19 in the first round.

This year’s count will be held across two nights on November 20 and 21 at Marvel Stadium.