Jack Fitzpatrick

[Standing Room Only 27]

For the last season I've heard people talk about this fella.

Can someone please explain why there's so much love. I know he's only a young bloke making his way but I just can't see it. Nice enough field kick but terrible mark & poor decision maker (fits in perfectly at the moment).

[RalphiusMaximus 6,000]

There's so much love because we've seen what he can do at Casey. The dropped marks are basically nerves, and the more games he plays the less we will see of it. He's hellishly fast for a guy his size, as we saw when he ran away from a couple of mids today and slotted the pass down the throat of a leading forward. He's a good overhead mark (despite what he's done the last couple of weeks) and he's 2m tall. He's been regularly getting 4 and 5 goal hauls at Casey, dominating both forward and in the ruck. What we want to see is an extended run in the seniors to work the nerves out and show some of that ability. Right now is the ideal time for this since we're short on tall forwards.

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

For the last season I've heard people talk about this fella.

Can someone please explain why there's so much love. I know he's only a young bloke making his way but I just can't see it. Nice enough field kick but terrible mark & poor decision maker (fits in perfectly at the moment).

Athletic, competes well in the ruck, and almost always do inmates the vfl, he will get a go, and he has a bit of promise. His set shot in the first quarter that hit the post shows how far his skills have come on!

Definitely needs more afl games, but put Clark in the fwd line with Dawes and the fitzy wold be more dangerous! Still has to work on his decision making but so does the whole team

[Buzzy 958]

For the last season I've heard people talk about this fella.

Can someone please explain why there's so much love. I know he's only a young bloke making his way but I just can't see it. Nice enough field kick but terrible mark & poor decision maker (fits in perfectly at the moment).

Interesting case. He makes me miss Stef Martin. I've seen a fair bit of him at training over the years and he has the worst hands I've ever seen on a football field. Actually hilarious. I reckon I've seen him falcon himself half a dozen times. I literally just heard Luke Darcy say in the commentary on the replay that he is 'very very good overhead'. I think he's very very confused.

I hope for his sake he shows big improvement over the next few weeks with a bit of consistent game time - but for me I can't see it either.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Buzzy

[angrydee 842]

His field kicking and decision making in the 2nd half today were excellent, So was his pace.

He had seven tapouts - 2 to advantage. Jamar had 20 more with 1 more to advantage.

He will improve with game time,

edits for typos

Edited June 10, 2013 by angrydee

[Young Dee 1,303]

From what I saw of the game (second half) he played much better than last week.

He has potential but is a bit of a long shot - he looks like a giant alpaca (with some work he may put on a bit more size and get some coordination)

[deanox 8,937]

The biggest knock on him at the moment sends to be his marking, particular when under physical pressure. Given his height this should be an advantage of his, but he didn't seem to write have the strength required at AFL level.

For those who watch him at Casey regularly, how does his marking there stack up? Can you see him bringing his Casey marking form to the AFL or will it take further strength and development before this happens? At Casey does he take marks on the lead or in contested situations?

I hope he gets a few more weeks to settle in. If he doesn't make in roads soon he will miss his chance (I think huge may be contacted next year, but not certain, can someone confirm?). If not he will need to show a bit more at AFL in the second half of the year if he wants to hang around.

Also, where is his better position? Key forward or ruck who rests forward? With Clark, Dawes and Hogan we have enough kpf's, but if he stays on the list as the back up tall forward and back up ruck he has more value.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,000]

The biggest knock on him at the moment sends to be his marking, particular when under physical pressure. Given his height this should be an advantage of his, but he didn't seem to write have the strength required at AFL level.

For those who watch him at Casey regularly, how does his marking there stack up? Can you see him bringing his Casey marking form to the AFL or will it take further strength and development before this happens? At Casey does he take marks on the lead or in contested situations?

I hope he gets a few more weeks to settle in. If he doesn't make in roads soon he will miss his chance (I think huge may be contacted next year, but not certain, can someone confirm?). If not he will need to show a bit more at AFL in the second half of the year if he wants to hang around.

Also, where is his better position? Key forward or ruck who rests forward? With Clark, Dawes and Hogan we have enough kpf's, but if he stays on the list as the back up tall forward and back up ruck he has more value.

I'm pretty sure it's nerves making him miss those marks. He seems to take them at Casey. I say he's best as a forward/second ruck. In time we could well see Gawn as ruck 1 with Fitz playing spare tall forward and second ruck. Both have some work to do to get there, but it could be well worth the effort.

[deanox 8,937]

Thanks RM.

Can we carry Gawn, Fitz, Hogan, Dawes and Clark in one side? I would think that's one too many unless someone plays back. No problem with Fitz being the back up, because you do need depth players, and it seems unlikely we'll ever get all in the team together!

I hope he is retained for the next two matches, an extended run will help settle the nerves. If he had held 3 or 4 more marks this week he would have been a useful contributor.

[bing181 8,355]

Thanks RM.

Can we carry Gawn, Fitz, Hogan, Dawes and Clark in one side?

You only have too look at how many of those we currently have available. Clark is becoming a concern I would imagine.

[Biffen 12,517]

Luke Darcy picked up his problem in the replay

and we should listen to Darcy because he was such a success in his own career

and is so knowledgable now that he is mates with BT.

It's all beard related.

[CHAMP 347]

Interesting case. He makes me miss Stef Martin. I've seen a fair bit of him at training over the years and he has the worst hands I've ever seen on a football field. Actually hilarious. I reckon I've seen him falcon himself half a dozen times. I literally just heard Luke Darcy say in the commentary on the replay that he is 'very very good overhead'. I think he's very very confused.

I hope for his sake he shows big improvement over the next few weeks with a bit of consistent game time - but for me I can't see it either.

Is this internet hyperbole to give your post punch because it simply is not true.

[gOLLy 401]

His positioning is woeful

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Ask yourself, if Melbourne delisted him would another AFL team pick him up?

[dazzledavey36 49,734]

With dawes set to miss i would think fitz will get a good run ahead.

[Mad_Melbourne 872]

His positioning is woeful

our kicking is the problem, if the ball gets kicked to the advantage side of the defender then always its going to be hard for the kid to take a mark.

although he got caught out by lynch a couple times running to the collingwood goal square when he played ruck, he gave a pretty decent effort!

definitely improved from his first few, definitely showing positive signs

[Weedster 174]

I'm pretty sure it's nerves making him miss those marks. He seems to take them at Casey. I say he's best as a forward/second ruck. In time we could well see Gawn as ruck 1 with Fitz playing spare tall forward and second ruck. Both have some work to do to get there, but it could be well worth the effort.

I think he looks ok when he goes into the ruck, but the knock on him (and unfortunately too many others IMHO) is that he does not initiate anything in general play. We are crying out for someone to demand the ball, instead there is a tendency to leave it to others. Hopefully will come with experience & confidence.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Was one of the only people who played a good game yesterday.

Had some pace, hands were better, lead/provided options and put some hits/tackles.

[Melbournepotter 279]

I thought he did ok in yesterdays game. He missed a few overhead marks but I thought his attitude to work was good. He stuffed one thing up on the wing and then chased and harried until he caused a spill from Collingwood and an eventual ball up.

I liked him having a shot from 50 which hit the post a fair way up. I think he showed enough to persevere with.

[Mongrel Dee 56]

Another player who gets to the big tent and can't understand what Neeld wants him to do.

[Satyriconhome 10,065]

Another player who gets to the big tent and can't understand what Neeld wants him to do.

Why have you asked him?

[Mono 454]

Loved the play in the 1st quarter when he burst from the centre, out accelerated Sidebottom and hit Howe lace out, dead in front. (Howe then proceeded to kick a point.)

Bet that's the way they train.

[Young Dee 1,303]

Ask yourself, if Melbourne delisted him would another AFL team pick him up?

Only one way to find out!

[dee-luded 2,958]

For the last season I've heard people talk about this fella.

Can someone please explain why there's so much love. I know he's only a young bloke making his way but I just can't see it. Nice enough field kick but terrible mark & poor decision maker (fits in perfectly at the moment).

weapons, his weapons... great hands, excellent speed, balance, size, kicks goals, plays forward,

what is it you cannot see?

[Mono 454]

Ask yourself, if Melbourne delisted him would another AFL team pick him up?

Yep, I reckon he would be picked up. Size , speed, etc.....has chronic fatigue behind him and is getting used to living with diabetes.

I reckon there would be a fair bit of interest.