RECAP: North Melbourne’s pursuit of West Coast Eagles’ No.1 pick after free agency Ben McKay compensation
It was a manic opening day to the 2023 trade period as Lachie Schultz dropped a bombshell on the Dockers after they traded for a future first round pick.
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One door closes, another opens
Fremantle general manager of football Peter Bell has defended the volume of players departing the club in recent seasons, with three players requesting to be traded in 2023.
Lachie Schultz stunned the Dockers on the opening day of the trade period when he requested a move to reigning premiers Collingwood — despite having a year left to run on his contract.
He joins wantaway winger Liam Henry and departed veteran Joel Hamling in looking to leave the club in a worrying trend of talent leaving Fremantle.
But Bell says there is a silver lining.
Demons show interest in Tomahawk
Melbourne reportedly made a late bid to see if they could land Geelong veteran Tom Hawkins as his contract negotiations continue to play an 18th season in the hoops.
Hawkins, 35, was left “a little irritated” that his new deal to stay at the Cats was taking so long, according to his former teammate Josh Jenkins.
This sparked an enquiry from the Demons as to whether the big forward would like to continue his 347-game career with them and help develop West Australian rising star Jacob Van Rooyen.
It is reported that Hawkins and Geelong are going through the final details of the deal and he will remain in Geelong where he will overtake former captain Joel Sellwood as the game record holder.
Melbourne are in need of another key forward to help Van Rooyen and defender-turned-forward Harrison Petty after they were bundled out of the finals in straight sets for the second consecutive year.
The Demons have already been busy this trade period, losing James Jordon to Sydney as a free agent, while they traded James Harmes to the Western Bulldogs.
Their next goal will be to work with Sydney to find a suitable trade for ruckman Brodie Grundy after the experiment to play alongside Demons captain Max Gawn failed in 2023.
The Swans are trying to find deals to get not only Grundy, but Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams, but both the Demons and Magpies are wanting pick No.25 to get their respective trades done.
