The 2023 trade window has closed, with the Pies involved in three transactions during another active month.
Lachie Schultz was the Club’s biggest signing, with the 25-year-old joining after 90 games at Fremantle.
The Pies acquired the small forward in exchange for pick 34 in this year’s national draft and a future second-round pick.
Schultz, who scored 33 goals last season, will slot into the Pies’ already dangerous attacking half.
Schultz, according to Collingwood General Manager of Football Graham Wright, will be a versatile player for the Club.
“He can play a number of roles in our forward half but he’s also able to go through the midfield,” Schultz said in a statement.
“He has great endurance, speed, and power, he scores, he’s a great pressure player, and he’s a great score assist player.”
“(He’s) 25 years old, so we felt he’d fit in really well with our team, and the way we play will really suit him, and I think he’s excited to come and play with us.”
“He was looking to get back to Victoria and we were really keen to make him a part of our Club.”
Earlier in the game, the Pies bid farewell to Vice-Captain Taylor Adams, who left for the Sydney Swans.
In exchange for Adams, the Club acquired pick 33, which was then pushed down to 34 and traded to Fremantle in the Schultz deal.
Adams joined Collingwood from the GWS Giants in 2013 and went on to play 175 games for the club.
Wright revealed that Adams expressed a desire to leave the Club following his exit meetings.
“He was keen to speak to us about what the future might hold for him next year and he certainly wanted more time in the midfield and we knew that,” he added.
“Fly told him, ‘we can’t guarantee there’ll be a lot more time in the middle,’ and that’s where he wanted to play.
“He asked to explore, which he did with Sydney, and then returned and said that was something he obviously wanted to consummate and get through.”
“We were really mindful of the fact that he’s given great service part of our leadership group and would’ve been playing Grand Final day if not for injury so we were respectful of his wishes.”
Small forward Jack Ginnivan was traded to Hawthorn on the final day of the trading period.
The 20-year-old joined the Hawks along with pick 39 in this year’s draft and future second and fourth round picks.
Collingwood gained pick 33 in this year’s draft, as well as future second and third round picks from Hawthorn.
Wright stated that conversations with the two teams heated up fast, with Ginnivan seeking the move only on Wednesday morning.
“(It was) only yesterday that we became aware that he was looking to explore his options whether that be with Hawthorn or somebody else,” he told reporters.
“Things quickly escalated from there, to the point where Jack asked for a trade and wanted to leave this morning.”
“He spoke to the coach this morning and I spoke to his management this morning and we made that decision that that was best for both parties.”
In the 2023 draft, the Pies now have picks 19, 33, and 80.
Their 2024 draft picks have also been rearranged, with the Pies’ future first-round pick being tied to Fremantle and their future second and fourth-round picks now tied to Hawthorn.
In exchange, Hawthorn’s second and third round picks are now bound for the Magpies, a move that Wright feels will benefit the Club in the long run.
“We feel like our draft position is in a good one and we’re looking forward to the draft now,” he told reporters.
“We gave up our first pick for Lachie Schultz next year, so bringing in Hathorn’s second, which we’re not looking to hope Hawthorn goes badly, but we’re certainly hoping that we’re able to be in a strong position and maybe Hawthorn’s not quite at that level just yet.”
“We also have Hawthorn’s third round pick, so we believe that those two picks, combined with our third round pick next year, will put us back in the draft.”
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