Gotch's review

Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack played in the ruck, and as a key forward. He had 16 touches, so he had a good impact on the game. Unfortunately, he kicked two behinds. I reckon that if he’d kicked those two goals, it would have been really nice, and cleaned up his game. He took ten marks out of those 16 possessions, so that’s a good sign. And he was important in the last ten or fifteen minutes, when he went in the ruck. He took a couple of really good marks behind the ball, which was really important. He showed enough to be quite exciting, to have that sort of impact on the game. As second ruck, and forward, he had a couple of opportunities, and did all the sorts of things we’d hope for him to do. He’s just got to polish it up a little bit more, but he’s heading in a really good direction.

seems to be coming along well. Too early to get terribly excited... but maybe just a little !!

He got a fair write up when they drafted him as potentially a bit of a gem late in the draft (i know every club talks up their draft picks but some other sources also mentioned the same).

Having seen him, he just looks like he needs a couple of really good summers in the gym. He's got the big legs and bum but he needs bulk in the upper body. Gotch's review seems good and hopefully he builds on the performance.

Just another reason why we as a collective MFC supporter base are excited about what the future holds...

put 15 kg on him over a couple of years ...and presto !!

Might put pressure on Spence and others . Once he's found some legs Id like to see him play a couple of NAB ( pre season ) if only for limited spells to see where he's at, give him a feel for the firsts etc.

Gotch's review

Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack played in the ruck, and as a key forward. He had 16 touches, so he had a good impact on the game. Unfortunately, he kicked two behinds. I reckon that if he’d kicked those two goals, it would have been really nice, and cleaned up his game. He took ten marks out of those 16 possessions, so that’s a good sign. And he was important in the last ten or fifteen minutes, when he went in the ruck. He took a couple of really good marks behind the ball, which was really important. He showed enough to be quite exciting, to have that sort of impact on the game. As second ruck, and forward, he had a couple of opportunities, and did all the sorts of things we’d hope for him to do. He’s just got to polish it up a little bit more, but he’s heading in a really good direction.

seems to be coming along well. Too early to get terribly excited... but maybe just a little !!

Oh I've seen Fitz a number of times at Casey both in the first and seconds and I think there is a huge upside with the kid. He is a very strong mark and seems to have a very good football brain (for a ruckman!). He does need to improve his kicking though which is at best average.

I can see the day next year when we have three star bagmen in the same side: jamar, fitz, and Gawn. That is the future and all three I reckon will form the basis of our next premiership side in 2014. I betcha!!!

Not sure he

Oh I've seen Fitz a number of times at Casey both in the first and seconds and I think there is a huge upside with the kid. He is a very strong mark and seems to have a very good football brain (for a ruckman!). He does need to improve his kicking though which is at best average................

Yep. I was speaking to Schwabby a few weeks back and he said the club is pretty excited about Fitz. He did acknowledge that he "needs a lot of work on his kicking". Another thing that encourages me is that he seems to be running out games fairly well, which hopefully means he is getting on top of his Chronic Fatigue.

I met Jack at our AGM earlier in the year.

He was keen to chat and seems like a very level headed young man. I asked him who he followed before he was drafted and he replied with a grin " Hawthorn: but I'm a big Melbourne supporter now"

And he's nice and tall. I wish him well for the future.

I met Jack at our AGM earlier in the year.

He was keen to chat and seems like a very level headed young man. I asked him who he followed before he was drafted and he replied with a grin " Hawthorn: but I'm a big Melbourne supporter now"

And he's nice and tall. I wish him well for the future.

yes i have spoken to him several times and he did say the same thing

said he went for the hawks but he has changed over to melbourne still has a little soft spot for the hawks but melbourne is his home now!

Welll... you can improve your kicking... but you either have a footy brain or you dont and he does.

Jamar, Gawn and Fitzy...three legs of our rucking stool.... thats one bloody big stool !!!! :lol::lol:

Welll... you can improve your kicking... but you either have a footy brain or you dont and he does.

Jamar, Gawn and Fitzy...three legs of our rucking stool.... thats one bloody big stool !!!! :lol::lol:

Good point you raised re brain & kicking.I have doubts that Fitz will make it- but I must admit he has a football brain and this may and his will to make it get him there.

Fitzpatrick had huge raps on him touted as a potential top 10 pick after the u16's i think it was. Scully, Lucas and Fitzpatrick were the big three at the time.

thats one bloody big stool !!!!

Not quite the words I would have chosen

Was he actually recruited as a ruckman? Could be wrong, but I had a feeling they intended to use him up forward.

Not quite the words I would have chosen

Was he actually recruited as a ruckman? Could be wrong, but I had a feeling they intended to use him up forward.

Pretty sure he was drafted with the intention of a key position forward that could pinch hit in the ruck. Similar to Justin Koschitzke....

Gotch's review

Jack Fitzpatrick: Jack played in the ruck, and as a key forward. He had 16 touches, so he had a good impact on the game. Unfortunately, he kicked two behinds. I reckon that if he’d kicked those two goals, it would have been really nice, and cleaned up his game. He took ten marks out of those 16 possessions, so that’s a good sign. And he was important in the last ten or fifteen minutes, when he went in the ruck. He took a couple of really good marks behind the ball, which was really important. He showed enough to be quite exciting, to have that sort of impact on the game. As second ruck, and forward, he had a couple of opportunities, and did all the sorts of things we’d hope for him to do. He’s just got to polish it up a little bit more, but he’s heading in a really good direction.

seems to be coming along well. Too early to get terribly excited... but maybe just a little !!

Great news I think. To be honest, I am a doubter - it's funny how we all get a gut-feeling from these kids without any reason whatsoever to back it up with. It gives greater delight when they come out and prove us (or in this case, Me) wrong!

Loved reading Gotch's comments about Tapscott too. (Here's this gut-feeling again!) I think this kid will be in our top 10 by the end of next season. Loved the bit about how he likes to tackle hard...I like that in a boy.

It's just the reputation he has with his kicking that worries me. You want a forward to go the distance, he has to be able to kick the thing straight. This board was pumped about a player like Martin playing forward, now he's nowhere to be seen. I can't help but feel if he could kick straight he'd have been forgiven a lot more of his foibles. But then, of course, he'd not have dropped to the PSD. Neither would Fitzy have dropped to the 50s.

He's very tall and very quick on the lead. Makes him very hard to match up on.

Im pretty sure Jack was taken by the Dees with Rucking prospects...but one who was amazing agile for his size and could play around teh ground a bit.

hes one of those rare talls that can actually rove his own work.. a bit of a nightmare for oppositions.. Yes he's raw but he can ruck even if hes not at the top of that game yet..he can. He has a head for where to beand what to do.. just sometimes the execution is the undoing, but that CAN be worked on and you would expec with time and match experience he will mature and come good. He has speed ( in spades ) making him lethal down the forward line...but again, his kicking proess needs work.

He a young kid ( bloody big one..lol ) got all the right attitude and works on his game...he'll be a cracker this one

give him a bit of slack... hes just startiing out and already showing a bit in the magoos. what more do you expect at this time ?

Im pretty sure Jack was taken by the Dees with Rucking prospects...but one who was amazing agile for his size and could play around teh ground a bit.

hes one of those rare talls that can actually rove his own work.. a bit of a nightmare for oppositions.. Yes he's raw but he can ruck even if hes not at the top of that game yet..he can. He has a head for where to beand what to do.. just sometimes the execution is the undoing, but that CAN be worked on and you would expec with time and match experience he will mature and come good. He has speed ( in spades ) making him lethal down the forward line...but again, his kicking proess needs work.

He a young kid ( bloody big one..lol ) got all the right attitude and works on his game...he'll be a cracker this one

give him a bit of slack... hes just startiing out and already showing a bit in the magoos. what more do you expect at this time ?

i remember when one certain ruckman came to us, great agility,can rove his own ball. the big question is can fitzy take a contested mark, or even just mark above his shoulders lol. if he can do that he's already moved ahead of pj, get him in there next year for a run at the end of the year if we are out finals contention!

He's very tall and very quick on the lead. Makes him very hard to match up on.

The main key aspect as to why Bailey was so excited in landing him at draft time.

Kicking does need work (as always) and was an issue with his coaching at TAC Cup level at the Jets.

I think he is one that will fill out and strengthen up top. Whether he makes it remains to be seen, but it will no doubt be influenced by the work he puts in to get the best out of himself. As is the case with many players. (Stating the obvious).

I certainly hope he gets the best out of himself with the tools he possesses. Quick men at 200cm are indeed a difficult match up if they have a fair degree of footy nous, and can contest well in air/ on the lead.

i remember when one certain ruckman came to us, great agility,can rove his own ball. the big question is can fitzy take a contested mark, or even just mark above his shoulders lol. if he can do that he's already moved ahead of pj, get him in there next year for a run at the end of the year if we are out finals contention!

Hes not a bad mark actually ( and overhead )... reasonably clean hands. He would be a real handful once he settles down and bulks up

Hes not a bad mark actually ( and overhead )... reasonably clean hands. He would be a real handful once he settles down and bulks up

i might have to make the 3 hour drive and go check some of this talent out, gawn's playing at 11 as well isnt he?

i remember when one certain ruckman came to us, great agility,can rove his own ball. the big question is can fitzy take a contested mark, or even just mark above his shoulders lol. if he can do that he's already moved ahead of pj, get him in there next year for a run at the end of the year if we are out finals contention!

Will be interesting to see what unfolds between now and Round 21. IF we can win enough games to secure 10th or 11th spot, and the last game is kind of a dead-rubber, I'd love to see our team for round 22. Might be a great marketing/membership push for people to come to the MCG, despite the crappy timeslot, and watch our future running around with Watts, Jurrah, Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott, Fitzpatrick, McKenzie, Strauss, and Morton all running around. Sadly I don't think Blease will get a jumper this year, look out next year though.

Unbelievable Fizpatrick is only 19, tall, coming off a limited pre season and patchy 12 months after suffering chronic fatigue syndrome and alrady there are judgements whether he will make it or not. Uninformed and premature at best.

How long do you think before he gets a game for the DEES? please don't get me wrong when i say this but it seems the seconds are just whole different ball game to the pace of the AFL. So with guys like Jack the size i mean might just struggle a little bit, when he gets his chance.

Unbelievable Fizpatrick is only 19, tall, coming off a limited pre season and patchy 12 months after suffering chronic fatigue syndrome and alrady there are judgements whether he will make it or not. Uninformed and premature at best.

Care to highlight which post(s) is "uninformed" RR ?

A generalisation like that questions alot of posts. Including mine.

Care to highlight which post(s) is "uninformed" RR ?

A generalisation like that questions alot of posts. Including mine.

If you scroll through you will see posts about whether he will make it and that his kicking will hold him back. I know there may be keenness in seeing how he goes but there is so little evidence to base judgement particularly for a guy who is young tall raw, physically underdeveloped and has missed alot of football.

Heaven knows what sort of analysis will go into Gawn's first game in the VFL 2nds!