I can't believe this guy attracts so much criticism here. From the Hun today (OK I know it's Mark Robinson):

Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch has played 10 games this year and kicked 25 goals, which is the second-most goals of any mid-sized or small forward behind Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. It is said Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman are keeping Ben Brown out of the team, but the ability of Fritsch to play as an undersized key forward means McDonald, Weideman and Brown will never – OK, rarely – play in the same forward liner. Fritsch is tied with McDonald as the most targeted forward in Melbourne’s forward line this season. Because the other big guys require key defenders as opponents, Fritsch often gets the third defender and his marking and ball smarts make him a dangerous player. He had Zaine Cordy on Friday night, and before that Jake Kelly and before that Luke Parks and Lachie Plowman at Carlton. He is currently ranked No. 9 in competition for forward 50m marks and No.1 for general forwards. What a weapon he is.

He is a victim of the position he plays.  There'll be some days where it just doesn't work for him.  Overall, he's having a very good year.  If he kicks 50 goals for the season he'll have done a wonderful job.  That's the pace he's on now.

He's an interesting one. I can appreciate his goal kicking but don't necessarily rate him that highly.

If the game is on our terms he is handy, when it isn't he becomes very ineffectual. He can't create a goal in the way a De Goey or Stringer could with brute strength or a massive contest

18 minutes ago, BW511 said:

He's an interesting one. I can appreciate his goal kicking but don't necessarily rate him that highly.

If the game is on our terms he is handy, when it isn't he becomes very ineffectual. He can't create a goal in the way a De Goey or Stringer could with brute strength or a massive contest

Just like Luke Bruest. Not many rated him highly and still don’t even after 400 goals. Medium size forwards are always underrated. He will never be a power forward. He did kick 6 when north were all over us though for much of the game. He is a clever strong mark and gets himself into the weak spots of defences. 

Edited May 30, 20214 yr by John Crow Batty

5 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

Just like Luke Bruest. Not many rated him highly and still don’t even after 400 goals. Medium size forwards are always underrated. He will never be a power forward. He did kick 6 when north were all over us though for much of the game. He is a clever strong mark and gets himself into the weak spots of defences. 

Fair point on Bruest

The only reason I believe there is a knock on him this year is his lack of defensive pressure. 

There have been numerous examples of opposition players stepping around him too easily with only an outstretched arm as a form of a tackle. I can't remember him chasing down an opponent (even to cause a spoil) so while I can appreciate his offensive work (which clearly he is brilliant at especially his body positioning in a contest) his lack of any defensive pressure is obvious to see. 

11 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

Just like Luke Bruest. Not many rated him highly and still don’t even after 400 goals. Medium size forwards are always underrated. He will never be a power forward. He did kick 6 when north were all over us though for much of the game. He is a clever strong mark and gets himself into the weak spots of defences. 

Jeez I had no idea Breust had kicked that many. Good on him!

17 minutes ago, 13thFlagIsComing said:

The only reason I believe there is a knock on him this year is his lack of defensive pressure. 

There have been numerous examples of opposition players stepping around him too easily with only an outstretched arm as a form of a tackle. I can't remember him chasing down an opponent (even to cause a spoil) so while I can appreciate his offensive work (which clearly he is brilliant at especially his body positioning in a contest) his lack of any defensive pressure is obvious to see. 

Also his inconsistency, his poor games are horrendous, if he could improve his defensive pressure & consistency he could be a 60+ forward 

1 hour ago, RigidMiddleDigit said:

I can't believe this guy attracts so much criticism here. From the Hun today (OK I know it's Mark Robinson):

Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch has played 10 games this year and kicked 25 goals, which is the second-most goals of any mid-sized or small forward behind Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. It is said Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman are keeping Ben Brown out of the team, but the ability of Fritsch to play as an undersized key forward means McDonald, Weideman and Brown will never – OK, rarely – play in the same forward liner.  He is currently ranked No. 9 in competition for forward 50m marks and No.1 for general forwards. What a weapon he is.

Robbo's on the money. Our forward keys are Tmac and Fritsch and 1 other tall.  I'm over Weid after Friday nights less than stellar performance (dropped mark, shanks,)  Leigh Matthews plays great store in goal kicking accuracy. Ben Brown for mine simply becuase at least he kicks them when he gets it. And takes a big defender.

Bailey's our leading goal kicker at the moment and a very hard match up.

24 minutes ago, Billy said:

Also his inconsistency, his poor games are horrendous, if he could improve his defensive pressure & consistency he could be a 60+ forward 

As Swooper mentioned earlier, it's the nature of his position that his poor games are going to be very poor. He doesn't exactly have the versatility to play in other parts of the ground and if we shift him out of the forward line, we lose a dimension in attack.

29 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Robbo's on the money. Our forward keys are Tmac and Fritsch and 1 other .........

Bailey's our leading goal kicker at the moment and a very hard match up.

There’s a sentence you don’t see too often

He'd walk into any other side in the competition.

40 goal forwards don't grow on trees

43 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Robbo's on the money. Our forward keys are Tmac and Fritsch and 1 other tall.  I'm over Weid after Friday nights less than stellar performance (dropped mark, shanks,)  Leigh Matthews plays great store in goal kicking accuracy. Ben Brown for mine simply becuase at least he kicks them when he gets it. And takes a big defender.

Bailey's our leading goal kicker at the moment and a very hard match up.

Weiderman had an almost there game on Friday, got his hands to the footy just dropped them.  I like the dynamic of Weiderman/TMac/Fritsch/Jackson(Gawn). 

On Fritsch as others have stated, his defensive side has been poor and when he is off it is a absolute stinker.  He is a hard match up as the third or fourth tall forward.

He’s a point of difference with his skills and forward IQ and is benefitting from being the 3rd or 4th tall and from our high pressure game providing turnovers around our forward 50.

As a ‘hater’ - he has to buy in to that game and play his role on the defensive and offensive side. Yes he gets the weakest defender from time to time but on the flip side he gets targeted and his opponent drives off half back as they can get away with having a smaller player on him.

Love how we have a system defence that is getting us to where we are but anyone criticising deviation from that system is labelled by some as ‘deluded’ or a ‘hater’. 

When Fritsch and others don’t do the things that are within that system - it gets noticed and the integrity of selection is what keeps players bought in. If you are not following - you don’t play.

I don't rate his hairstyle.......

Thank Christ for him and T Mac  No one else is consistently kicking goals. 

including finals,  Fritch is on track to kick 60 goals and T Mac 50. 

fritsch is incredibly talented with the ball, and can find space and read the flight. Also he is brave, such a skinny bugger out there with massive defenders, he holds his own. 

I agree he needs to work on chasing and pressure. Could also do without trying to take mark of the year. 

hopefully posters stop calling for him to be dropped!

The hairstyle leads me to believe he drinks a bit of his own bathwater. It may be well off the mark, just what it portrays to me.

I don't agree with @Diamond_Jimthat he walks into any starting 18. I think there would be a few coaches who wouldn't accept the off the ball stuff. Port, Brisbane and Geelong immediately spring to mind. He definitely picks and chooses when he wants to contest

 

Edited May 31, 20214 yr by BW511

An integral part of the team. Good in the air, clever and creative at ground level, and finds space. Provides balance, mobility and goal kicking ability. 

4 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Thank Christ for him and T Mac  No one else is consistently kicking goals. 

including finals,  Fritch is on track to kick 60 goals and T Mac 50. 

fritsch is incredibly talented with the ball, and can find space and read the flight. Also he is brave, such a skinny bugger out there with massive defenders, he holds his own. 

I agree he needs to work on chasing and pressure. Could also do without trying to take mark of the year. 

hopefully posters stop calling for him to be dropped!

Indeed DubDee, in the air Fritta is as brave as they come - I don’t think he gets anywhere near enough credit for that. He also judges the ball in flight so well. He could teach the Weid a thing or two about positioning and marking.

The only knock I had on him prior to this season was his set shot kicking, but he seems to have got a good and effective routine going now. Love ya work, Bayley!

8 minutes ago, hemingway said:

An integral part of the team. Good in the air, clever and creative at ground level, and finds space. Provides balance, mobility and goal kicking ability. 

These are simple - but essential - qualities that he frequently demonstrates. For very useful, good players, these qualities far outweigh the negatives. 

Has to reduce the gap between his best and his worst which at present is way too big. This can happen to fwds but they can still have an impact without scoring goals. A la Spargo.

Had a good game against the Dogs and was up the ground helping the defenders quite often. WOuld also like to see a rise in his intensity as he can often look very casual attacking a contest or kicking for goal.

He's doing just fine. Leave him alone.

23 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

He's doing just fine. Leave him alone.

+1. His main job is to kick goals not to be a pressure forward.

Note how many times he is on his own as the leading, or loose, forward 30-40 out. He doesn't fly with the big guys but provides an alternative target for non-long-bomb kicks.

For as long as he keeps scoring at over 2 goals a game, he is doing his job.

1 hour ago, drdrake said:

his defensive side has been poor and when he is off it is a absolute stinker. 

But I’d still rather have him in the side than not.

1 hour ago, BW511 said:

The hairstyle leads me to believe he drinks a bit of his own bathwater. It may be well off the mark, just what it portrays to me.

What a bizarre comment. Do you have something against Beavis?