Looking forward to seeing how he goes when Ben Brown is leading out of the square. I think with his smarts, and with more focus on BB and Kozi, he will really come into his own. 

Lovely kick but the compass is broken.

Should be fixable.

 

  On 27/03/2021 at 20:05, Better days ahead said:

There's this thing known as emotional intelligence. Please look it up.

Sorry, I failed that test. By the way, I'm pretty sure that's an oxymoron.

If you want to look up something; have a look at Sagittarius traits. It might give you an insight into why I say what I say.

He has the safest hands in the team .On Saturday night he was the only tall(Max Included ) that didn't  drop a straightforward mark   .The dropped marks of Lever and Jackson gifted the Saints goals at important stages .He led well and found space .His kicking for goal was a little off but the one he did thread showed that essentially there is nothing wrong with his kicking action .I am a bit surprised by the level of criticism..

  On 27/03/2021 at 19:43, Bring-Back-Powell said:

He’s one of favourite players at the club but he’s always taking shots on the flanks and hence affecting his accuracy.

Would love to see him take some some marks from a regulation 45 metre out directly in front.

Well he will have to start leading there more often then and/or players will need to ignore him more often when he does lead out too close to the boundary BBP.  The kicker has to take some responsibility here as well.

Tracc's rediculous attempt to hit him up with opponent on his shoulder as Fritta lead to the pocket boundary line on Sat night a great example of that where it went OOTF.

The injection of Bob might (hopefully) straighten us up a little and partially solve this issue but responsibility should also rest with the FD (messages/training) and the players themselves.

I would also be highlighting to the players in the review period, the chances/odds of kicking goals from different areas/angles inside 50 in order to reinforce the importance of leading to places that improve their (and the team's) chances of goaling.  I would assume this to be in Goody's (FD's) 101 coaching / training program and most players already well aware of this by now.  If that is the case but for whatever reaaon it's still happening far too often, as a coach i would then be asking the question of the regular offenders to try and rectify any systemic bad habits.

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by Rusty Nails

  On 29/03/2021 at 09:14, picket fence said:

Hnmm 1 goal 3 on Sat 10 possesions, what has he done to improve his goal kicking?? Agree, looks dangerous but does he make you pay??

I'm quoting to reply just so you have visible responses from someone who isn't being a jerk about it!

I have a lot of faith in Fritsch and believe he is at least in part sacrificing his personal game for the sake of team structure.  It's a running joke in my household about Fritsch getting a mark and it being 'out on his spot', barely inside 50 and at that awkward angle just a bit wider than the 50m markings.  On the weekend we were even tut-tutting at Petracca who took a couple of marks 'on Fritsch's spot' - Petracca also missed those shots, for the record.

But faith and fun aside, those misses are very irritating. It is quite noticeable that Fritsch has bursts of behind in games that would otherwise be marking him as absolutely first-rate.

For relatively recent form, there was a 1.3 on the weekend, and in 2020 a 1.4, 2.4 and 3.4. Late in 2019 during his generally outstanding return to forward duties there was also a 1.4.

Fact is, some of those goals were also gimmes (which he earned by smart hard running) from the goalsquare.

IF Fritsch manages to line up those spots from 'The Fritsch spot' then he becomes an terrific weapon that will force any defence in the game to cover him while leaving gaps for Brown, Weid, McDonald and anyone else we let roam into the hot zone. But if he doesn't, then we really have to think about using him more explicitly as an inside-50 deliverer.  He's smart and a good enough field kick to be effective at it.

I'm happy to see the club persevere with him for a while as I do believe he's playing a role that isn't easy, but will revisit at the end of the season because if things haven't (literally!) straightened up by then, maybe a fresh start in a new plan is the way to go.

  On 27/03/2021 at 21:18, DeeSpencer said:

I’ve posted this before but stats insider says his expected score last year wasn’t too far below what he ended up with. Although he’s skilled enough to be well above it IMO.

He seems worse from what should be the left footers best side. That tells me he falls off his kicks.

https://www.statsinsider.com.au/afl/shot-charting

Great website DeeSpencer, thanks for this.

Interesting to compare Fritta and Trac over the three years. Very similar output.

It is clearly a mental issue with goal kicking. when kicking to a team-mate he rarely mis-kicks them.  kicking for goal on Sat night and they are missing as soon as they are off the boot. sliced one terribly.  keep going with the sports psych Bails, you'll get there

he is so clever making space, reading the flight and marking for a light body.

Fritsch is a very frustrating player. He looks a good kick technically but obviously misses way too often for a deep forward (and often badly). 

With the rule changes, I can see Ben Brown being almost unstoppable at full forward if he is given space to operate and can get back to his best. The coach will also be tempted to play three key forwards given TMac's 2021 form, Jackson's potential and athleticism and Weideman's marking and endurance.

Given all that, I can see Fritsch be pushed up on the Brayshaw wing once we get our full side back.

  On 30/03/2021 at 01:28, Fat Tony said:

Fritsch is a very frustrating player. He looks a good kick technically but obviously misses way too often for a deep forward (and often badly). 

With the rule changes, I can see Ben Brown being almost unstoppable at full forward if he is given space to operate and can get back to his best. The coach will also be tempted to play three key forwards given TMac's 2021 form, Jackson's potential and athleticism and Weideman's marking and endurance.

Given all that, I can see Fritsch be pushed up on the Brayshaw wing once we get our full side back.

When Weid and Ben Brown are back in our forward line, Fritsch plays higher and more often would be feeding those key forwards, with his current angled shots more often being taken and kicked by BB or Weid...

Edited April 2, 20214 yr by PaulRB

Here is a map showing Fritsch's set shots so far this year:

So, obviously, he's taking his shots in low-percentage positions. Having said that, the two behinds on the left are the preferable side for a left-footer.

Here's the same map for Fritsch since Round 1 2019:

Same deal. Very few shots from the corridor. A heap of shots from 30-50m out on the flanks.

Some of it is intentional I'm sure, but some of it is Fritsch leading to the wrong places. Obviously the left flank and pocket are not good scoring zones for him, but he's already taken four shots from that area in the first two rounds.

  On 03/04/2021 at 03:44, titan_uranus said:

Here is a map showing Fritsch's set shots so far this year:

So, obviously, he's taking his shots in low-percentage positions. Having said that, the two behinds on the left are the preferable side for a left-footer.

Here's the same map for Fritsch since Round 1 2019:

Same deal. Very few shots from the corridor. A heap of shots from 30-50m out on the flanks.

Some of it is intentional I'm sure, but some of it is Fritsch leading to the wrong places. Obviously the left flank and pocket are not good scoring zones for him, but he's already taken four shots from that area in the first two rounds.

Interesting.

He may be in the wrong place, but he’s often there on his own or one-out. I wonder if he’s in the wrong spot to keep out of the way of someone who’s in the right spot? Getting in the way of the talls was a weakness early in his career. 

It would also be good to see how the ball gets to him when he receives it on the flanks/pockets. It could be he is more often than not the recipient when we’ve attacked down the wing rather than the corridor. 

All just guesswork on my part. Something to keep an eye on today.

Trade Fritsch?!

This is surely a contender for the worst thread of the decade.

 

He either needs to start slotting the goals or looking to pass to a player in a better position. Letting teams off the hook with behinds will come back to hurt us against good sides.

Sometimes, as the third forward, you need to be the wide 'get out' leading option for the kicker if the main forwards aren't used up the middle.  Good defenders and good defensive set ups will often have the corridor blocked.

This would contribute to Fritch's leading patterns, and set shots from the flank.  You can't just offer a lead up the guts from the goal square unopposed all afternoon, especially if you aren't the main man.

Does he need to improve his set shot kicking?  Yes!  But personally I think he plays that third forward role as well as anyone going around, and I wouldn't trade him for all the tea in China.

We are a far better side with Fritsch in than we are with Fritsch out, one of the best mid size marks in the game, just enjoy the kids endeavour and talent. A lot of other teams would love him in their colours, he is no whipping boy.!!!!!!!!

  On 03/04/2021 at 21:38, Dr. Gonzo said:

He either needs to start slotting the goals or looking to pass to a player in a better position. Letting teams off the hook with behinds will come back to hurt us against good sides.

You make a very good point about passing off to a player in a better position - that's what the good sides do.  Our forwards need to get better at this if we want to be contenders.

  On 03/04/2021 at 22:00, BigFez said:

Sometimes, as the third forward, you need to be the wide 'get out' leading option for the kicker if the main forwards aren't used up the middle.  Good defenders and good defensive set ups will often have the corridor blocked.

This would contribute to Fritch's leading patterns, and set shots from the flank.  You can't just offer a lead up the guts from the goal square unopposed all afternoon, especially if you aren't the main man.

Does he need to improve his set shot kicking?  Yes!  But personally I think he plays that third forward role as well as anyone going around, and I wouldn't trade him for all the tea in China.

Good post. For the most part you can fix your accuracy but tge other part is just instinct and talent. No trade..  just no.

 

Who could we trade him for now?

 

  On 11/04/2021 at 06:31, Biffen said:

Who could we trade him for now?

 

compass fixed? or game by game proposition?

 

Yeah, nah.

How embarrassed and dumb would you feel to have started this thread or even to have agreed with it. Some are so quick to write players off.

Edited April 11, 20214 yr by Redleg

  On 11/04/2021 at 08:07, Engorged Onion said:

compass fixed? or game by game proposition?

Highly coachable and actually a beautiful kick.

 

  On 19/09/2020 at 04:35, picket fence said:

Misses far too many gettable goals No intensity! Trade

  On 11/04/2021 at 08:14, Biffen said:

Highly coachable and actually a beautiful kick.

 

That's one of the most sane things you have said on here :)

I concur fully... 

Actually on the subject of Bailey - as stick figure as he is, he does put his body on the line...his fourth goal in particular.

Edited April 11, 20214 yr by Engorged Onion