Two forwards, two mindsets: The contrasting philosophies driving the Hawks and Magpies

August 14, 2026 — 7:42pm

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Hawthorn were interested in Lachie Schultz during 2023, when the then Fremantle forward was exploring a move back to Victoria, but, in-part due to Collingwood’s appeal as the premiers and the Magpies’ more aggressive pursuit, Schultz ended up in black and white.

Had Schultz gone to the Hawks, who were 16th in 2023 and seemingly still mired mid-rebuild, then it’s a reasonable bet to say that Jack Ginnivan wouldn’t have been strutting the social media stage as a Hawk.

Further, had Schultz chosen Hawthorn – and vice versa – then it’s entirely possible that Ginnivan might not have been traded from Collingwood.

Schultz was due to be an unrestricted free agent in 2024. Collingwood were willing to jump early, and pay the premium, having met with Schultz in the days after their storied premiership, in which Ginnivan had been the sub and recorded only seven touches in three quarters.

When Ginnivan met with Sam Mitchell and his football lieutenant Rob McCartney at Mitchell’s home (how many players have been hosted in that abode?) following the 2023 grand final, it was evident that this would be a more suitable marriage than Ginnivan’s three-year union with Collingwood, where his profile – on social media in particular – exceeded his........

© The Sydney Morning Herald