Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what happens

Blokes been our only half decent forward for 5 years and has been surrounded by plumbers, journey men and VFL players across that time but gets called out on "pressure numbers". Sad!

The 'shout out' video the club released has Gawny giving his shout out to Fritta for stopping the Tigers intercept marks in the 2nd half. I didn't notice it so will have to watch again, but there has to be something in that.

1 minute ago, BigBadBustling said:

The 'shout out' video the club released has Gawny giving his shout out to Fritta for stopping the Tigers intercept marks in the 2nd half. I didn't notice it so will have to watch again, but there has to be something in that.

He had at least two intercept marks taken on him in the first half, so I think more likely he just didn't let that happen again in the second half.

Not many in our team can kick goals like he did in the third. To me he’s like your clinical striker in soccer, keep him deep.

51 minutes ago, Farmer said:

Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what

He's been garbage for over 20 matches. Until he can pressure, tackle and be trusted by his teamates he can go back to the Magoos.

5 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

He's been garbage for over 20 matches. Until he can pressure, tackle and be trusted by his teamates he can go back to the Magoos.

He has kicked 25 goals in the last 20 games from a bottom 4 side. Your expectations are wildly unrealistic

I’m currently O/S so missed the game but have read all of the post game thread. Read something on FB where Fritsch was quoted as saying the season hasn’t gone as he or the team would have liked. He’s a gun and a must keep for mine, not sure what’s going on but if he’s let go at seasons end we will regret it.

Just found the quote

“I’d love to be up all the time, but the start of this season hasn’t gone the way I wanted or the team wanted”

“I want t to play my footy here forever, I don’t know where any of that chat come from”

Considering what some other players have served up in recent years I think we can cut him some slack.

55 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Not many in our team can kick goals like he did in the third. To me he’s like your clinical striker in soccer, keep him deep.

The problem is that even his accuracy is down, by a lot.

So it is key that he can regain that accuracy in front of goal like it is 2022.

1 minute ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Just found the quote

“I’d love to be up all the time, but the start of this season hasn’t gone the way I wanted or the team wanted”

“I want t to play my footy here forever, I don’t know where any of that chat come from”

Considering what some other players have served up in recent years I think we can cut him some slack.

Should be a one club player for sure.

He is out of form. He'll be back.

Edited April 25Apr 25 by Jack Vineys Anger Manager

I will absolutely cut Bayley some slack. Always trying times with a new born and he has been the reliable scoring source.

However it doesn't change my expectations that if you're fronting up in that forward line at the moment, you need to be applying the bare minimum of defensive pressure efforts. We have 1 competitive key tall at best each week and are always scratching to find another who can do the job. We don't have the razor sharp cutting edge of a Brisbane or Adelaide forward line either so therefore in this forward setup we need everyone bringing their best tackling, chasing, coralling efforts each and every week.

I love Bayely and want him back to his best doing his part for the team but we're at that point where a nice goal or two is outweighed by our inability to lock it in.

Cutting him some slack sounds like we're doing him a favour by just not hanging [censored] on him.

He is definitely working himself back into form bit by bit.

Did some important non-stat work, demanded attention, kicked a couple of goals.

I feel confident about how his 2025 will progress.

The real issue remains the weakness of our 'true' key forwards.

Fritsch is a very important part of our team, has been for a while now and still is and will continue to be so. I like the comparison to the clinical soccer striker that fits.

He will find accuracy again, already did last night a bit.

2 hours ago, Farmer said:

Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what happens

Happy to cut him some slack, but not playing in the seniors.

If, as you suggest, fatherhood is affecting his ability to perform for MFC then give him more time at home and let him play for Casey.

I'm not convinced that is the reason for his drop in form, he's been below part for a long time now, but I absolutely think he should not be playing seniors based on his current output.

4 hours ago, Oxdee said:

He has kicked 25 goals in the last 20 games from a bottom 4 side. Your expectations are wildly unrealistic

I think its your expectations that need to be adjusted if you think he is judged solely on his goal output.

Its a team game

5 hours ago, Oxdee said:

He has kicked 25 goals in the last 20 games from a bottom 4 side. Your expectations are wildly unrealistic

Lay off Bayley? Look, most of his career stats have been remarkably consistent—but let’s be honest: like most of the senior group (with the notable exceptions of Max and TMac), his key numbers have been in free fall for nearly two years.

The concern isn’t just form—it’s that his weaknesses as a player (lack of defensive pressure, minimal second efforts, limited versatility) have become more exposed as the team structure falters around him. He’s a weapon when we’re humming, but when the system breaks down, so does his impact.

6 hours ago, Farmer said:

Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what happens

He was poor last year before the baby was conceived.

The 3rd quarter goal in the GF he kicked from the centre clearance, crumbing off the back of the pack to get us back in the game is one of my favourite Dees moments ever. Gives me shivers watching it.

A bit of humility and empathy goes a long way.

4 hours ago, Young Angus said:

Fritsch is a very important part of our team, has been for a while now and still is and will continue to be so. I like the comparison to the clinical soccer striker that fits.

He will find accuracy again, already did last night a bit.

Compare his game to Sparrow's, who's fast becoming one of our most important alongside Bowey, in fact Fritsch should be put in a room and told to watch Sparrow's game and he only kicked one goal.

Edited April 25Apr 25 by Roost it far

7 hours ago, Farmer said:

Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what happens

Will he hand back his pay packet then, everyone has things going on off field it’s no excuse and his poor form started well before the baby

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

I think its your expectations that need to be adjusted if you think he is judged solely on his goal output.

Its a team game

What else does he do besides kicking goals he certainly doesn’t do the other things like pressure and tackle and setting up goals. If he’s not delivering in front of the goals he’s of no use

Thought Fritta did what he needed to kicking a few goals against Richmond.

However, he still needs to aim to make at least ONE tackle per quarter. I think that is a reasonable objective.

10 hours ago, Farmer said:

Those who didn’t attend the match but watched on 7 saw Fritta and his partner nursing a baby. Two weeks old! First child I believe . History is full of examples of sportspeople going off the boil when a baby is due/ recently born. Give him another week or two, see what happens

No it’s not, he hasn’t brought intensity or 1%ers for the last 2 years. It’s harsh but a fact