First saw Fritsch play in the opening round this year at Williamstown.

Early in the first quarter someone took a strong pack mark. From the pack emerged this young beanpole. When he did it again shortly thereafter I looked up my trusty guernsey numbers as provided by KC to find out that the guy was called Fritsch.

Watched him at four or five other games and while mainly hoping for a break out game by the Weed I could not help but notice that this guy was always a chance for a mark and good goal.

Would be interesting to hear from others how he does tackle wise and when the ball is on the ground.

There seems to be little doubt that he is the top pick from the VFL for the coming draft. The only question is which club will blink first in fear that he may not get to their pick in the next round.

My guess is a late second rounder and if not he will be gone by the time our third round comes around.

Edited September 14, 20178 yr by Diamond_Jim

On 11/09/2017 at 5:30 PM, Drunkn167 said:

The kid can play, gets some amazing hang time and for a smaller bloke is a great contested mark. For those saying he isn't good enough, you obviously did not watch a lot of VFL games this year because he is insanely talented.

Put a couple of AFL pre seasons into him and when he fills out and puts on some weight he'll be a beast.

Plus there's one thing about being drafted to the MFC that a lot might not realise, is that the club primarily go for 2 apsects in a bloke (apart from footy skills) This isn't speculation, I heard this come directly from Goodwin at the start of the season:

1) They must have a huge want to play AFL and 2) have a great, friendly, likeable personality. Look at guys like Hannan, T.Smith and Keilty, came from tough pathways to get onto an AFL list (having to play VFL whilst working full time jobs) and have great personalities.

Fritsch fits those aspects perfectly.

Get him in.

Could he play like milne?

That would be handy!

"There should be space for a medium to big sized 6"2 forward who can leap and take a mark with natural instinct" tonight after Dangerfields 5 goal first half. Could be applied to Fritsch perhaps? Obviously he's not a mid, but just recruiting decent players who have a natural goal instinct and building a dynamic around what you've got, rather than filling the forward line with utilities like Bugg, Harmes, ANB, Melk etc

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by Deeprived Childhood

1 hour ago, Deeprived Childhood said:

"There should be space for a medium to big sized 6"2 forward who can leap and take a mark with natural instinct" tonight after Dangerfields 5 goal first half. Could be applied to Fritsch perhaps? Obviously he's not a mid, but just recruiting decent players who have a natural goal instinct and building a dynamic around what you've got, rather than filling the forward line with utilities like Bugg, Harmes, ANB, Melk etc

Petracca?

Edited September 15, 20178 yr by Ethan Tremblay

2 hours ago, defuture15 said:

Could he play like milne?

That would be handy!

He reminds me of Cameron Bruce.

13 hours ago, Deeprived Childhood said:

"There should be space for a medium to big sized 6"2 forward who can leap and take a mark with natural instinct" tonight after Dangerfields 5 goal first half. Could be applied to Fritsch perhaps? Obviously he's not a mid, but just recruiting decent players who have a natural goal instinct and building a dynamic around what you've got, rather than filling the forward line with utilities like Bugg, Harmes, ANB, Melk etc

He may not be a starting mid, but he has rotated onto the wing and even on the ball a few times this year, adding more strings to his bow.

14 hours ago, Deeprived Childhood said:

"There should be space for a medium to big sized 6"2 forward who can leap and take a mark with natural instinct" tonight after Dangerfields 5 goal first half. Could be applied to Fritsch perhaps? Obviously he's not a mid, but just recruiting decent players who have a natural goal instinct and building a dynamic around what you've got, rather than filling the forward line with utilities like Bugg, Harmes, ANB, Melk etc

according to casey site he is 6'1"  (186cm)

he won't play afl based on his marking skills at that height (and weight). will need some other special skills at afl level

just saying

Stood head and shoulders above many of our AFL listed players this year at Casey. Think he will be around the 40-50 mark in this years draft. 

Edited September 21, 20178 yr by DaveyDee

l can see Fritsch as a great pickup for the dees.There's more upside in this kid.

Quoted from KC of Casey in the Jack Trengove win the Casey B & F thread.

"The runner up (of the Casey B & F) was promising youngster Bayley Fritsch who also won the VFL's Fothergill–Round Medal for 2017 which is presented to the most promising young talent in the VFL competition."

Great to read! I hope we can acquire him in the draft (before another club selects him).

On 22/09/2017 at 9:34 AM, DaveyDee said:

Stood head and shoulders above many of our AFL listed players this year at Casey. Think he will be around the 40-50 mark in this years draft. 

It's a shallow draft, I think if he proves in testing that he can run like an AFL player that he goes in the 2nd round. Might be why we are trying to get an extra 2nd round pick.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

It's a shallow draft, I think if he proves in testing that he can run like an AFL player that he goes in the 2nd round. Might be why we are trying to get an extra 2nd round pick.

Late second round or early third is my thinking.

A stand out young VFL player ... he will be looked at by all clubs. Hard to see him slipping beyond the third round at the latest.

The only question mark is whether he is too slight for AFL but from what I saw he has the goods. Also of course the Richmond win means that players like Fritsch may not be considered the model AFL footballer.

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Late second round or early third is my thinking.

A stand out young VFL player ... he will be looked at by all clubs. Hard to see him slipping beyond the third round at the latest.

The only question mark is whether he is too slight for AFL but from what I saw he has the goods. Also of course the Richmond win means that players like Fritsch may not be considered the model AFL footballer.

Which is why we set our own model. We should get him.

Could this bloke play the Watts role?

What is his field kicking like and decision making like? 

22 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Could this bloke play the Watts role?

What is his field kicking like and decision making like? 

Fritsch: "What role am I playing today coach?"

Goodwin: "Well today we are playing [insert team name here] so I want you to be booed and sworn out by all their supporters and a vocal and vociferous minority of your own supporters too. If you do well you can expect the same treatment next week and the week after that. Expect to be pilloried in  the media and your own Club will admit your mere presence puts them under pressure. 

You will run the game out to the end but I will infer to the press that your preparation was lacking. All your teammates will make fundamental school boy errors; failing to kick to targets 20 metres away, handball to players feet and missing goals from 35m out but we are setting new standards now and elite finishing skills are so very 2016 which was, coincidentally, when we signed you to that 3 year (non binding) contract. 

Fritsch: "Oh, I’m playing the Watts role"

cutting but so true fn dee.

On Fritsch .. I have seen him about five times and while I have seen his marking impact I have not noticed him breaking away etc into space. Not to say he cannot (does not) do it but at VFL level the game seems to me to be a lot scrappier and less open than AFL games.

I am no expert but I liken him in my mind to Gunston. A good goal kicker who knows how to position himself.

His repeated pack marks are very "un Watts" like of course.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

cutting but so true fn dee.

On Fritsch .. I have seen him about five times and while I have seen his marking impact I have not noticed him breaking away etc into space. Not to say he cannot (does not) do it but at VFL level the game seems to me to be a lot scrappier and less open than AFL games.

I am no expert but I liken him in my mind to Gunston. A good goal kicker who knows how to position himself.

His repeated pack marks are very "un Watts" like of course.

and given his size are unlikely to be repeated at afl level

it won't be his pack marking that will decide if he plays afl

If give up too much hope of getting Fritsch.

It'd be like Bulldogs supporters last year expecting to get Hannan.

2 hours ago, Mach5 said:

If give up too much hope of getting Fritsch.

It'd be like Bulldogs supporters last year expecting to get Hannan.

Hey Mach.   What about Darcy Lang? 

Draft this kid.

Plays a Mitch Hannan type role.  Can’t see both in our 22 or forward line. 

Has talent and needs a chance at AFL level. 

On 8 October 2017 at 5:54 PM, Stretch Johnson said:

Hey Mach.   What about Darcy Lang? 

Don't mind him, but a fringe player and I don't think he'll ever be anything more. Could be a solid role player.

On 10/7/2017 at 12:26 PM, Stretch Johnson said:

Could this bloke play the Watts role?

What is his field kicking like and decision making like? 

Why play the Watts role when you have a Watts to play that roll?

Now that we have an extra 2nd round pick courtesy of the Lever trade, is there a chance one may be used to secure Fritsch in the draft, while the other could still be used in a trade?

10 hours ago, hardtack said:

Now that we have an extra 2nd round pick courtesy of the Lever trade, is there a chance one may be used to secure Fritsch in the draft, while the other could still be used in a trade?

I reckon we will use 27 or 35 to take Fritsch. Based on what I have seen he is worth either of those picks. It will just be a matter of where we believed he will be picked, and are other sides interested in him. I suspect teams will be interested in him but not speaking to him - and will just take him. I wouldn't be against us using 27 on Fritsch, but believe its more likely he probably goes at 35