Having assumed a position in the leadership group for the first time in his senior football career, Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz pointed to the environment he stepped into at the KGM Centre as a key reason for his rise up the seniority ranks.

After arriving at the Pies at the end of 2023 on the back of five seasons with Fremantle – who drafted him after two impressive years with Williamstown in the VFL – Schultz has never quite gotten the chance to hold an official leadership role during his career.

But now, after enduring some ups and downs throughout his two years at the Club and endearing himself to his teammates for his ferocious playing style, the 28-year-old has taken up a spot in the Pies’ leadership group to guide the way in 2026.

“It’s pretty cool, just to get that recognition is the cool part. Everyone strives to be a leader, but being recognised by the players, it's a pretty nice feeling,” Schultz told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I've always had aspirations to be a leader in some sense and it sort of progressed pretty quickly here at the Pies and the opportunity arose with the way the team changed in the last couple of years.

“I was able to grow in the area and work hard with the boys around me and the leadership group to learn a lot off them and that fast tracked my development into a leader, which this year I can start reaping the rewards of.

“I've always sort of been that next cab off the rank and waiting for my turn during my career, so for it to happen at Collingwood, which is such a proud and historic club with great leaders over the years, is something that just means the world to me.”

Joining the Club on the back of the 2023 triumph meant the team’s culture was already entrenched at the Pies, something Schultz was keen to immerse in.

Led by Senior Coach Craig McRae and Captain Darcy Moore – who it was confirmed this week would lead the side for a fourth consecutive season – the pressure forward said feeling comfortable in the environment was almost instant.

“I think that came pretty quickly to be honest. I think the culture that Fly and Darcy have built over the past few years, even before I got here, just enables everyone to be themselves and have the confidence and freedom to let their true character shine,” he said.

“Out on the field that comes naturally and when you have that clear mind and no fuss mindset, because of how accepting everyone at the Club is, it just enables you to really lead from your front foot and not really have any doubts.”

With Schultz the only new face in this year’s edition of the group, he will saddle up alongside forward line partner Jamie Elliott, who was included for the first time in 2025.

Together they’re helping develop the array of young forwards around them, with the likes of Charlie West and Will Hayes settling nicely into their second seasons, while there’s also Jack Buller ready to embark on his career at the Magpies.

“I've learned so much from Jamie in my short time here already and obviously his experience and the way he reads and sees the game is as good as anyone,” he said.

“To be able to work alongside him going forward, as I obviously have in the past, is great and with an official title as a leader it is pretty special.

“We have young guys now who will kick me out to an off-ball wing so they can get some time as a half forward and for them to have confidence to be able to do that to a senior player shows we have such good chemistry within our team.

“We've created a culture where people have the confidence to just be themselves and speak up and let their thoughts be heard and if I can help any of the younger guys, that's my role and that's what I want to do.

“It makes it very exciting for what it could do for myself, but it also makes it exciting for how we can help develop the other guys around us.”

Schultz has been open about how he navigated a challenging first 12 months in black and white, with his 2024 season not going as he or the team had hoped.

Despite registering 24 goals for the year and displaying his trademark pressure style from the outset of his career at his second Club, commentary came thick and fast about his perceived below-par output.

But Schultz’s work rate has always been rated highly internally and by his peers, and while last year again proved frustrating at times as he battled injuries, those frustrations were perhaps enhanced by just how well he was performing when he was fit.

Now, with another year of perspective under his belt, the mental side of his game is in a much better place and he’s well equipped to be able to impart his wisdom on his teammates when necessary.

“I've always been really open about it and how hard it was and how naive I was to it all, but I feel like I've been able to work so hard at the mental side of the game away from being on the field,” he said.

“I've been surrounded by such great people that have shared experiences and given insight into ways and techniques to get around all that. I feel like I'm in a really good position going into the season to keep putting that as far behind me as possible.

“Now it's my turn to relay these messages onto the next lot of people that might be feeling that way.

“As we know, it's a brutal industry and there's expectations everywhere and guys are going to cop it and that's just a brutal reality that we play in.

“To be able to know that I've been through it - if I can share those experiences with other people and help them then that really motivates me.”

Now only a little over a week out from 2026’s first hit out – with Schultz and the Pies preparing for a clash with GWS next Friday in Official Match Simulation – the team’s newest leadership group member is itching to put the summer’s work into action.

“Every year is a long and gruelling pre-season and you're always looking forward to that first hit out, and now we're just over a week away,” he said.

“Everybody's pretty keen and been itching to get out there and get some physicality and competitive edge out there, so I'm looking forward to that.

“I’m just looking forward to continuing to build over the rest of the pre-season and take it into the year.”