From ugly duckling to a graceful swan

[FarNorthernD 5,841]

Jack played well on the weekend but Im not with the graceful swan analogy

With his relatively short legs, long body and upright running style I've always pictured Fitzy as a human version of a dippy, dunking bird.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Yes.

These threads are intriguing.

He's been in the system for seven years now and played on a second year key forward in Tom Boyd who got zero supply and was ineffective in the ruck and he also played on Cordy or Roughead, neither of whom are much chop.

Defensively, he did a good job. It was a solid game. But shouldn't we as supporters expect this from a bloke who's been on the list for 7 years? All he needed to do was compete hard and beat his man.

I'd like to see 15 more games like that before I get too excited. We've seen plenty of players over the years play a solid game here and there and plenty of terrible ones.

Fitzy is a limited player. He doesn't have great kicking skills nor decision making skills but he's tall, fast and agile.

I don't think it's worth getting excited about anything at this point. I'm just happy he was one of many who contributed positively to the side. We need a lot more of that a lot more of the time.

[Breggsy 123]

Good to see him play a good game. I was surprised when he got the call up the week after being stretched off from the casey game.

He is tall but I don't think he has the smarts or skills to play as a forward. He isn't the greatest overhead mark for a 2m tall player. His strength is his pace and quickness for such a large player so it's good to see the coaching department try and reinvent this guy in a position that utilizes his strengths and relies less on his marking/kicking.

I think for team structure it would be good to have him there taking the resting ruck or the taller forwards releasing dunn.

This week I would have thought he takes one of lobbe ryder when they are played forward. Dunn too schultz after his solid games on him last year. Tmac to someone like westhoff who bases his game on endurance running. Jetta hopefully back in to give wingard a bath again.

As for the outside players I think we would have to put some time into a matt white (daniel cross? rohan bail?) and maybe a pittard?

I think richmond laid the blue prints on how to beat port last week - pushing numbers up and choking the contest. If this is the case then I expect vandenberg to have another positive game and riley may start and dom tyson a chance to be brought back in?

[daisycutter 28,562]

While I'm happy for Fitzy to have played a good game, and I'm one of those who has not been a fan in the past, this is the quintessential Demonland thread. A player plays ONE good game and we need a thread showering him with praise as if he's the second coming of Gary Hardeman.

Let's wait and see him do it on a consistent basis before we all walk around with erections for the day.

c'mom wiseblood, you are like a woman who protesteth too much

i don't think posters are claiming he will be a second coming etc

we all know it was one game and he needs to kick on from here

just because you are having a bad hair day is no reason to attack your fellow posters

[daisycutter 28,562]

Yes.

These threads are intriguing.

He's been in the system for seven years now and played on a second year key forward in Tom Boyd who got zero supply and was ineffective in the ruck and he also played on Cordy or Roughead, neither of whom are much chop.

Defensively, he did a good job. It was a solid game. But shouldn't we as supporters expect this from a bloke who's been on the list for 7 years? All he needed to do was compete hard and beat his man.

I'd like to see 15 more games like that before I get too excited. We've seen plenty of players over the years play a solid game here and there and plenty of terrible ones.

Fitzy is a limited player. He doesn't have great kicking skills nor decision making skills but he's tall, fast and agile.

I don't think it's worth getting excited about anything at this point. I'm just happy he was one of many who contributed positively to the side. We need a lot more of that a lot more of the time.

actually he has had less than 5 1/2 seasons

[Brayshaw Self 847]

Our answer to Michael Johnson and Lachie Hansen?

[What 18,810]

His kicking was spot on vs Dogs.

Come to think of it so was Grimes.

[monoccular 16,076]

Come on guys

Share some all too brief and rare moments of joy

I don't think anyone believes he is the messiah (or even a very naughty boy) but enjoy the moment and be glad for him.

Edited May 27, 2015 by monoccular

[Rob Mac...... 605]

What impressed me most was the fact that Tom Mc was having a "quiet" day, there was no Salem and no Jetta, so Fitzy and Garland had to carry a much bigger load. Garland was Garland (which is good), but Fitzy had come from the 2's no doubt aware that his future is in the balance, no doubt aware that there are supporters who already have him gone, and no doubt aware that getting the Dees season back on track was reliant in a large part on his performance on Boyd.

The fact that he coped with all of that and the fact that he was probably the 3rd or 4th best performed player for our team (probably only beaten by Pedersen and Hogan and maybe Jones), speaks volumes for his character and his coming of age as a player. If he repeats that again this week, I think it will be up to others to displace him rather than him going back to the VFL having performed his role as simply a depth player.

Spot on Hardtack!

Watched him in defense for Casey recently & loved his play and relaxed confidence. Not looking like the same guy. Improving overhead, kicking & footy smarts, plus how many 200cm players are so fast or good below the knees? He was diving for marks, great game. Love to see more.

[Its Time for Another 4,054]

I wonder whether Roosy is using his crystal ball and anticipating the abolishment of the sub next year which means 2 ruckman will be back thus the need for a Tall backman to mind them. Thus Fitzy being groomed for the job

[highroller 112]

When i first saw him play close up at a Casey game probably 4-5 years ago my old man, brother and i started calling him Peabody for some reason. Its been so long since he has been in the team i had forgotten we even called him that then was laughing when i was receiving texts on the weekend about how good Peabody was lol.

[rjay 23,922]

Good to see him play a good game. I was surprised when he got the call up the week after being stretched off from the casey game.

He is tall but I don't think he has the smarts or skills to play as a forward. He isn't the greatest overhead mark for a 2m tall player. His strength is his pace and quickness for such a large player so it's good to see the coaching department try and reinvent this guy in a position that utilizes his strengths and relies less on his marking/kicking.

I think for team structure it would be good to have him there taking the resting ruck or the taller forwards releasing dunn.

This week I would have thought he takes one of lobbe ryder when they are played forward. Dunn too schultz after his solid games on him last year. Tmac to someone like westhoff who bases his game on endurance running. Jetta hopefully back in to give wingard a bath again.

As for the outside players I think we would have to put some time into a matt white (daniel cross? rohan bail?) and maybe a pittard?

I think richmond laid the blue prints on how to beat port last week - pushing numbers up and choking the contest. If this is the case then I expect vandenberg to have another positive game and riley may start and dom tyson a chance to be brought back in?

I think Roos laid the blueprint last year...we just weren't quite good enough to get over the line.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

actually he has had less than 5 1/2 seasons

That's true, I keep thinking he was drafted in Watts' year.

Regardless, I stand by my point that his performance is something we should expect from a player who's been in the system for as long as he has.

A solid game. Let's hope that can be a benchmark.

[FireOath 290]

As for the outside players I think we would have to put some time into a matt white (daniel cross? rohan bail?) and maybe a pittard?

I think Roos laid the blueprint last year...we just weren't quite good enough to get over the line.

I think it was Roos decision to tag Polec running off half back as he was a huge part in their playmaking last year. He hasn't been able to find that form this year yet. Going off topic now though.

Nice Fitzy, nice.

There we are, back on track.

[Moonshadow 16,214]

Jack played well on the weekend but Im not with the graceful swan analogy

With his relatively short legs, long body and upright running style I've always pictured Fitzy as a human version of a dippy, dunking bird.

Flamingo? Jabiroo?

[daisycutter 28,562]

Flamingo? Jabiroo?

graceful alpaca?

[Demon Jack 6,280]

Granted this is from a couple years ago, but it shows that Jack's an impressive young man.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs-H8EKZ55g

It's most likely that he's thought that he's in a similar position this year, out of contract and unlikely to receive another by years end. At the moment, it seems like he's gone back to simply enjoying his football. Reinventing himself as a defender might just earn him another contract.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Demon Jack

[Macca 16,173]

Another BP "late mail"special (Fitzy went at pick 50 in the 2009 draft)

He looked right at home in the backline ... we could easily end up with multiple options for different match-ups in our backline - Frost is another when fit.

Both have a yard of pace.

[P-man 13,168]

Will be watching Fitzy with interest to see if he can back it up against stronger opponents. He's certainly made a promising start if this is to be his new role.

As Macca alluded to, he could be competing against the likes of Frost who has a few weapons himself.

[Little Goffy 12,585]

Surely it is more 'newborn giraffe to unicorn' than duckling.

Thrilled that he has shown something, will be watching and ready to cheer him on.

Could be yet another feather in Jade Rawlings' cap.

[Wunders 385]

I've always hated our lack of height in the backline. Especially with new key forwards like daniher and boyd being 200cm, ive always felt we were slightly undersized. But the idea of Fitzy being able to play down back hadn't dawned on me and i really like it.. Be interested to see how he continues to go and what happens when we play shorter teams. Exciting times anyway!

[Moonshadow 16,214]

graceful alpaca?

No dc.

BBO would take some credit if that was the case.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,033]

graceful alpaca?

Didn't know there was a graceful variety ...

[DemonOX 8,530]

He played well but let's c it again this week and the next and the next etc.

[Binmans PA 26,135]

His kicking was spot on vs Dogs.

Come to think of it so was Grimes.

No, it wasn't. There was one kick that just flopped off the boot at half back, under absolutely no pressure. It dribbled over the line in front of a waiting MFC player.