One of the most improved Demons of 2013, the tall forward/ruckman was particularly dangerous around goal at times.

Games MFC 2013 11 Career Total 14

Goals MFC 2013 15 Career Total 18

Games CSFC 2013 5 Goals CSFC 2013 16

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 117 votes

Showed why he was highly rated back in his junior days. Tall super quick forwards dont grow on trees and we are blessed to have him in our side. Roos rates him highly and i cannot wait to see him take his game to the next level with more confidence and development.

People have forgotten Fitzy has beaten the odds to play AFL footy and contribute like he did this year CFS and then diabetes nearly haulted his career. This guy has some serious determination and courage.

I sti shake my head at people that still want to trade him after what he showed this year.

Showed why he was highly rated back in his junior days. Tall super quick forwards dont grow on trees and we are blessed to have him in our side. Roos rates him highly and i cannot wait to see him take his game to the next level with more confidence and development.

People have forgotten Fitzy has beaten the odds to play AFL footy and contribute like he did this year CFS and then diabetes nearly haulted his career. This guy has some serious determination and courage.

I sti shake my head at people that still want to trade him after what he showed this year.

Very well said. It's hard to think of a really tall player with equal foot speed. For someone of his height he appears to have quite a low centre of gravity, perhaps the corollary of a long neck? . He can pinch-hit in the ruck, too, if injury strikes the other three. Probably a bit more than pinch-hit.

Has been one of my favourites since his first senior game. While many knocked his disposal, I couldn't believe how he hunted the ball.

Will only get better with a coach believing in him.

Can't wait till he takes a hanger over Gawn will be mark of the year!

Can't wait till he takes a hanger over Gawn will be mark of the year!

If that is Fitz over say Sandilands then it is a definite hands in the back. Going to be at least two movements as well.

If however that is Gawn with his face in the turf (and it is difficult to tell from that angle) then I just don't know if it is a free, a mark or play on?

Amazing photograph

Thanks

Quite the improved player, especially from where some of us considered him to be at seasons start. I do however wonder just how and where he can break into the team.

YD you've done it again

That is an amazing picture (cant believe its a photo)

could be shown to all players as an updated example of the little engine that could.

Just hope can survive the landing

I was very pleasantly surprised when i first saw him by his athleticism for such a big guy.

Really looking forward to what Roos can do with him.

Fitzy is a keeper for mine

Tall , Quick and Agile

A defenders nightmare IMO

Fitzy is a keeper for mine

Tall , Quick and Agile

A defenders nightmare IMO

where do you play him and is he in the starting 22 ?? 25 ? even .. just asking

where do you play him and is he in the starting 22 ?? 25 ? even .. just asking

Forward pocket and yes i think he is in our best 22

Stoppage Ruckman in the forward 50

Many have stated that we already have too many talls in the Forward line

Hogan is touted as a KPF but IMO he could become a CHB under Roos

Clark is a permanent FF and should never be used as a Ruck Option

Dawes has the ability to play CHF just like Hogan

Howe at HFF

The other HFF? maybe Kent ?

Watts in the Centre

We have no damaging small forward ..........Evans maybe ? Trade for one ?

Thats my thoughts on it but with Roos who knows

When its all said and done the Forward Line isnt really the problem at Melbourne

where do you play him and is he in the starting 22 ?? 25 ? even .. just asking

How about the wing or HFF.

How about the wing or HFF.

in place of .. ??

Starts making the forward 50 very VERY tall, not so flexible. Its a reasonable answer though. Not my choice ...but

If we can get them all on the park at the one time with some clear plans and strategies for the team to play too we should be a problem for any team to match up.

Clarke at FF leads strongly and makes space as an agile forward option

Howe deep in forward pocket I know he is agile and mobile but his marking sets him aside as a deep marking option

Dawes and Hogan as twin post HFF with one going to boundary and one at CHF DAwes plays defensively and from what Ive seen of Hogan on few televised games he also was defensive

These blokes all make space and are all agile but still leaves a spot for a couple of smaller crumbers rotating through the centre and adding to mid field pressure

Again good defensive structures and player use can mean that mids dont have to expend energy running deep and can set up short defensive zone to assist our very solid and reliable defense which has been forced to do too much defending

As most posters acknowledge we need mids to pump the ball into a very talented forward line

Watts has shown he can be both defensive and offensive and with his delivery skills could feed any of the above options while playing a significant link on the wing Toumpas who plays taller than he seems can do the same on the other wing

Im excited to see who we add to the list and how Roos uses the talent we have and the supporting cast we have Kent Clisby Terlich Trengove etc

I reckon its a great squad with plenty of options getting them confident and playing to their ability is the trick Im looking forward to

GO DEEES

Sorry got carried away and diverted in the last post

Fitzzy can back up any of the structure being both a marking and agile forward but can add to the flanker winger link role as when I have seen him he seems to have the capacity to cover ground and make space.

If the above forward mid structure is on the ground Fitzy may find he is matched with a lower order defender which would give hima great advantage

He may need to work on his delivery as it would be disapointing if he failed to score from a positive attack