Player Watch Lachie Schultz

[sr36]

According to freo supporters, we are playing him in a completely different role to what he's used to. Myself included, we should just trust that the club knows what they are doing.

I didn't know him from a bar of soap before this year. His pressure is more super-charged than I was expecting, but considering the hype I was expecting him to be cleaner.

There's no doubt that our front half pressure has spiked significantly this year and it's now our strength - who knows how much that is Schultz, but it's that pressure from our forwards that has us up and running even with the injuries.

 

[manicpie]

I didn't know him from a bar of soap before this year. His pressure is more super-charged than I was expecting, but considering the hype I was expecting him to be cleaner.

There's no doubt that our front half pressure has spiked significantly this year and it's now our strength - who knows how much that is Schultz, but it's that pressure from our forwards that has us up and running even with the injuries.

I just think there's a bit going through his head atm. He's in no danger of being dropped.

 

[sr36]

I just think there's a bit going through his head atm. He's in no danger of being dropped.

I also think he and McCreery are working so hard defensively that they're sssed when they get the footy.

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

He had to return to Victoria for family reasons. Maybe a sick family member. That could suggest that he may not be in the best head space.

 

[gouki88]

He had to return to Victoria for family reasons. Maybe a sick family member. That could suggest that he may not be in the best head space.

That seems quite speculative - wasn't it just to be closer to family?

 

[JuniorB]

He had to return to Victoria for family reasons. Maybe a sick family member. That could suggest that he may not be in the best head space.

I read a story somewhere about him being stunned by some of the vile messages he got on social media earlier in the year.
He's still adjusting to playing for Collingwood in a number of ways.

 

[TheGreatSwan]

I can't help think a lot of vitriol here is coming from the trade price itself. Let's consider the factors at play here.

• Contracted Fremantle Player
• 6th in Fremantle's 2023 B&F
• 5th in Fremantle's 2022 B&F
• Coming off 2 years of 30+ goals as a pressure forward (ranked 2nd in both years for total goals for Fremantle)
• Collingwood's 2024 First Round Pick assuming it will be a pick well into the 20s considering Collingwood were 2024 favourites at the time, Academy/F&S selections.
• Graham Wright is not Adrian Dodoro. Wright gets deals done.
• 26 years of age and expected to be in the prime of his career in the next few years.

Considering the above, what exactly were people expecting? If we got him for Pick 60, would we be questioning his form as much?

 

[Captivating]

I can't help think a lot of vitriol here is coming from the trade price itself. Let's consider the factors at play here.

• Contracted Fremantle Player
• 6th in Fremantle's 2023 B&F
• 5th in Fremantle's 2022 B&F
• Coming off 2 years of 30+ goals as a pressure forward (ranked 2nd in both years for total goals for Fremantle)
• Collingwood's 2024 First Round Pick assuming it will be a pick well into the 20s considering Collingwood were 2024 favourites at the time, Academy/F&S selections.
• Graham Wright is not Adrian Dodoro. Wright gets deals done.
• 26 years of age and expected to be in the prime of his career in the next few years.

Considering the above, what exactly were people expecting? If we got him for Pick 60, would we be questioning his form as much?

For a start, it would be good if he was in Collingwood's best 15.

15 Pies players have received coaches votes. Who isn't on this list?

59 Nick Daicos
20 Jordan De Goey
17 Jack Crisp
11 Scott Pendlebury
10 Jamie Elliott
9 Patrick Lipinski
8 Darcy Cameron
4 Darcy Moore
3 Isaac Quaynor, Josh Daicos, Will H-E,
2 Billy Frampton, John Noble, Steele Sidebottom
1 Joe Richards

 

[jmac70]

For a start, it would be good if he was in Collingwood's best 15.

15 Pies players have received coaches votes. Who isn't on this list?

59 Nick Daicos
20 Jordan De Goey
17 Jack Crisp
11 Scott Pendlebury
10 Jamie Elliott
9 Patrick Lipinski
8 Darcy Cameron
4 Darcy Moore
3 Isaac Quaynor, Josh Daicos, Will H-E,
2 Billy Frampton, John Noble, Steele Sidebottom
1 Joe Richards

Bobby Hill isn’t on that list either.
Should we drop him too?

 

[Captivating]

Bobby Hill isn’t on that list either.
Should we drop him too?

Maybe the coaches don't value pressure acts as highly as some on here..

 

[gouki88]

Bobby Hill isn’t on that list either.
Should we drop him too?

Nor McCreery or Harrison.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Maybe the coaches don't value pressure acts as highly as some on here..

You’ve certainly proven that small forwards at Collingwood shouldn’t have coaches votes totals included in their contract incentives.

 

[sam_e]

I can't help think a lot of vitriol here is coming from the trade price itself. Let's consider the factors at play here.

• Contracted Fremantle Player
• 6th in Fremantle's 2023 B&F
• 5th in Fremantle's 2022 B&F
• Coming off 2 years of 30+ goals as a pressure forward (ranked 2nd in both years for total goals for Fremantle)
• Collingwood's 2024 First Round Pick assuming it will be a pick well into the 20s considering Collingwood were 2024 favourites at the time, Academy/F&S selections.
• Graham Wright is not Adrian Dodoro. Wright gets deals done.
• 26 years of age and expected to be in the prime of his career in the next few years.

Considering the above, what exactly were people expecting? If we got him for Pick 60, would we be questioning his form as much?

You left out a couple points that reflect the 'money talks, bullshit walks' version of how highly he was rated at Freo:

end-2018:
-drafted by Freo 2018 pick #58

2019/20:
-original 2-year deal on peanuts
-plays 7 and 17 games, scoring 4 and 12 goals
-end 2020 demoted to Rookie list

2021/22:
-rookie contract on half-peanuts
-plays 20 and 23 games as rookie scoring 22 and 30 goals
-end 2022 elevated back to senior list
-even after 52 goals in 2-seasons, given low-ball 12 mth contract with trigger for additional 12 mths

2023:
-plays 23 games scoring 33 goals
-mid-season (June-23) hits trigger for another 1-year at Freo
-as soon trigger hits, Peter Bell (EGM footy Freo) says “Club hopes to negotiate a longer-term deal with small forward”
-by end 2023, still had not agreed to a new deal
-given treatment at Freo (lowball, demoted to rooks, uncertainty, no security, 12-mth w triggers etc, his own words ..refer podcasts he’s done) it’s highly likely he doesn’t sign any new deal and is unrestricted free agent end 24 given previously cut & re-listed as rookie
-end 2023 says he wants to come home to VIC (still hasn’t signed new deal w Freo)

have said consistently, recruitment of another small forward was not a need end-2023 and totally unnecessary with emergence of HH and Richards (HH was being spruiked heavily by Fly throughout 2023, so no hindsight involved).

and yes, before Schultz had even pulled on the jumper, what we paid was overs IMO

 

[Magpies Swoop Ya]

He had to return to Victoria for family reasons. Maybe a sick family member. That could suggest that he may not be in the best head space.

I’m pretty sure it was mentioned around the trade request, on radio or in media that his partners brother had taken their life, hence the return to be close to family in Vic, understandable if correct.

 

[Piestration]

He’ll come good. The freo taking a bit longer to wash out than we’d like, but he hasn’t been terrible. Just not what we expect yet. I honestly believe we’ll see his true worth come September.


And even if, and it’s not likely IMO, he does pan out to be decidedly average, we’ve still taken clement, medhurst and tarrant (after he’d matured) back. We’re well ahead in the laughing stakes, they’ll never live those down.

Oh man you forgot the Chicken Man going to the Dockers

 

[Geek]

15 metres out and misses the goals. Lost us the game in hindsight.

People constantly go on about his pressure, but he spends 90% of the game chasing a player 1-2 metres behind them and they know he'll never catch them because he only has 1 pace so they don't actually feel the pressure that a Hill or Mcreery provide.

And yet he somehow lays slightly more tackles per game than McCreery and more than twice as many as Bobby Hill

 

[Kappa]

And yet he somehow lays slightly more tackles per game than McCreery and more than twice as many as Bobby Hill

And yet if you were to ask defenders who makes them more nervous they would all say Mcreery and Hill.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

And yet if you were to ask defenders who makes them more nervous they would all say Mcreery and Hill.

Did they all say that?

 

[Captivating]

Did they all say that?

yes they did

 

[pablo disco bar]

Let's just support the bloke

His trying his healthy let the bloke be


Ffs

 

[sr36]

Did they all say that?

All of them did, except Stephen May, who didn't understand the question.

 

[brockbruiser]

Let's just support the bloke

His trying his healthy let the bloke be


Ffs

100% agree mate, the same people here bagging this bloke out are likely the same few who were recently asking for Richards to be delisted or WHE to be dropped.

I'd say to those, get a life and start enjoying your football.

 

[jc37]

I actually think he has been ok and what I would expect.

He is down on his 22-23 form but he is also at a new club/system.

He will get to where he was at with time. He is a 30 goal a year small pressure fwd at the moment he is tracking at 22 goals. So he is 75% there

 

[kartanoman]

What does this American know? I've bled Black and White for over 40 years (NOTE: 41 to be exact), but I'll take an honest account:

Schultzie and the Club are still getting assimilated and it's obvious "they" (i.e. not one or the another) is still very much a work in progress. You have a player, who was a leader on his former club, who is adjusting psychologically, as well as physically, to playing with the reigning Premiers. He is self-conscious about how he can bring the most "bang for the buck" between playing his natural style, conforming to the role(s) Fly has given him, and establishing synergy with his teammates.

I don't believe it is difficult to see that he is a natural leader who wants to lead on the field; however, must contain that passion and become a good teammate and contributor and let the current on-field leaders do their thing.

I also do not believe it is difficult to see he is an intense competitor who has a motor that never stops. He may be prone to mistakes in his game, as he continues to become more settled in his role(s), but he has demonstrated a propensity for applying pressure, tackling, getting open inside-50 and taking running/diving marks, kicking goals, including on the boundary.

So, in my opinion, Collingwood picked up a "versatile," experienced, on-field leader who takes great pride in his game. His body of work with the Pies, to date, indicate that he is still working through the details of being fully integrated with the rest of the team as a full-fledged Magpie. He's definitely getting there and has helped with the forward pressure which has become a signature component of the 2024 Magpies. When all is said and done of his time with the club, I feel he will contribute in other significant ways AND find himself as a vice captain before long.

Peace!

 

[Mollythedolly]

For a start, it would be good if he was in Collingwood's best 15.

15 Pies players have received coaches votes. Who isn't on this list?

59 Nick Daicos
20 Jordan De Goey
17 Jack Crisp
11 Scott Pendlebury
10 Jamie Elliott
9 Patrick Lipinski
8 Darcy Cameron
4 Darcy Moore
3 Isaac Quaynor, Josh Daicos, Will H-E,
2 Billy Frampton, John Noble, Steele Sidebottom
1 Joe Richards

Actually, coaches don’t award votes to the top 15. It’s only ever the top 5 in any game, and we can generally only ever speculate over which coach gave which player votes. Who’s to say he hasn’t been rated in the top 15 in any game, just more hyperbole.