Lachie Schultz (Shooter)

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

been so so thus far.
ill give him a spell and get him to play 2 matches in the vfl now.
he has alot to work on.

[Presti35]

Will win the medal on Anzac Day.

[Pies2016]

Having seen most of Schultz games for Freo ( TV only ) I was convinced this was a trade that would make us better in the short term. At Freo, he averaged around 14 quality touches a game, kicked 63 goals in his last two seasons in the team with the slowest ball movement in the comp and finished top five in the best and fairest in his last two seasons with them. His pressure and gut running stood out as much as his ability to regularly bob up and kick clutch goals when it mattered most. While I accept he’s still working hard up and down the ground and going in hard, he’s not handling the ball cleanly or is he making the most of the limited opportunities he’s been afforded. His game average possessions are down dramatically and that could be anything from being unfit ( not likely ) to being asked to play a different role. What we all know is that it’s hard to kick goals if you don’t have the pill in the first place. Let’s also remember, his off season sessions and pre season training would have started earlier than the premiership players.
Schultz has so much improvement in him, it’s been hard to watch. At some point he either clicks and starts to show why we invested so heavily or he continues to just do enough to be picked in the firsts and risk being remembered as another wasted player trade.

Obviously this will invite all the “ we should have kept our first round pick “ hindsight experts to bemoan the trade. But remember, if the reigning premier isn’t looking to improve its best 22, then its going backwards. Refreshing this topic will also undoubtably raise the question of Ginnivans value vs Shultz but again let’s all remember, Ginnivan was given a four deal on good money from Hawthorn that Collingwood chose not to match. Given his 2023 antics, I don’t blame them, so it may haunt the club or it may not.
In a team that’s well down in a number of areas, Schultz is one player who has more improvement in him than most. I just hope we see that improvement sooner than later.

[piedys]

Will win the medal on Anzac Day.

Hey it took Medhurst into his 2nd season with us in 2008 to win it - patience please!

[warburton lad]

I have great confidence that Schultz will come up trumps sooner rather than later.

He is one of a number of forwards that would look better with a competitive tall player in the team to complement Mihocek.

I would give him short spells on the ball early in a match to get his hands on the ball and lift his confidence.

I'm looking for a breakout performance against the Blues next week- we sure need someone to spark us early in a match- I'm thinking Schultz may be the man...

[Culprit]

^^I agree, many supporters' expectations of him were too high. New team, adjusting to a new position. He's also put a lot of pressure on himself as he's missing set shots he would normally get.

[inxs88]

Currency wise his out put is of a third round draft pick not a first and second. Think he has enough scope and pride in his performance to raise his output.

[Presti35]

Will win the medal on Anzac Day.

Hey it took Medhurst into his 2nd season with us in 2008 to win it - patience please!

I didnt say what year.

[Presti35]

I could overhear the ppl behind me yesterday, one asked the other if they were offered a trade right now; Ginnivan in for Schultz.... would you take it.

Thats an interesting conversation starter.

[What'sinaname]

^ probably not, but if you offered me

In Adams and Ginnivan Rd and 1 2024
Out Schultz

I'd take it in a heartbeat as essentially, that's what happened.

[Pies2016]

Josh Jenkins take on Schultz start at Collingwood -

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/04/25/ ... par-start/

[Magpietothemax]

^Definitely would be giving Schulz more time to establish himself.
However, in my mind the Schulz vs Ginnivan debate is peripheral.
The main issue is that we are short of one in and under mid, and my main critisicm is that we haven't recruited/trained/developed another inside mid clearly ready for the AFL apparently at this stage.

We should have been more urgent and effective in preparing for this.
I think we were basing our hopes on Fin to come through.
We recruited Sullivan as a backstop during the pre-season.

But at this stage we seem to have little confidence in either, and keep selecting them as emergencies, etc.

I just can't see how Titch can hold up as the one pure and under inside mid. He just has to have assistance.

The main issue for us is: work out who can be a back up for Mitchell in our midfield.
It will mean playing Sullivan, fin in the seniors

[pietillidie]

Patience, folks. It's not an easy forward line to play, and definitely not in a new team that won the premiership. The supportive long game is the right approach here.

[Jezza]

I think Schultz is doing reasonably well, with a lot of major upside to come as he keeps adapting to our system and style.

Forward half turnovers through intense pressure has been our main source of generating scores this year, a contrast to last year where a lot of our scores were generated off the back half with fast transition through the corridor.

Schultz has been a contributor to this with his ground ball pressure and doing the one-percenters when the ball hits the ground. The hope now is all that hard work translates to more goals from him. At this stage, he's averaging one goal per game (8 goals in 7 games)

As reiterated above, patience is the key.

[RudeBoy]

I'm no expert, but I suspect he is being played a bit further up the ground than he did at Freo. With us, Bobby Hill is our main crumber close to goals. Schultz will likely get better as he adapts to our game plan and his teammates adapt to him. So far he's tracking nicely imho.