Collingwood have added further forward class to an already premiership-level list after acquiring Lachie Schultz in a trade with Fremantle.
The 25-year-old forward announced his intention to move last Monday as the trade period kicked off, selecting Collingwood as his club of choice.
Being their most prolific goal-kicker with 63 majors in the past two seasons, Fremantle were disheartened by the trade request and wanted more than Collingwood's reported offer of Pick 19 in the upcoming draft.
After more than a week of negotiations, the two clubs have settled on selection of Pick 34 and the Magpies' 2024 first-round selection in a deal for Schultz.
Fremantle's disappointment was made evident by a desperate four-year deal tabled to former Hawk Tyler Brockman as a small-forward replacement.
But the 20-year-old speedster agreed to terms with cross-town rival West Coast, leaving the Dockers with a front pocket hole to be filled alongside Sam Switkowski and Michael Frederick, while Michael Walters plays out his final seasons.
The Magpies suddenly boast one of the most dangerous medium-small forward brigades in the league, adding to a list with their Norm Smith medallist, Bobby Hill, beside clutch star Jamie Elliott and explosive pressure player Beau McCreery.
Despite the loss of Taylor Adams to Sydney, Collingwood aren't gunning for any more major deals in the trade period, and without a significant draft hand this year, appear settled on their list heading into 2024.
The Dockers seem troubled, losing Liamย Henry to the Saints and Schultz to the Pies without the like-for-like player compensation potentially needed for them to improve in 2024, which is Justin Longmuir's contract year.
The trade period caps off a down year for Fremantle, as they enter next season as one of the teams under the most pressure to perform.
The Dockers now sit with a trio of first-round selections for 2024, having already held their own and Port Adelaide's following a trade with the Power earlier this off-season.
