DEES BEGIN TALKS WITH FREE AGENT FRITSCH

MELBOURNE has kickstarted contract talks with premiership player Bayley Fritsch, confident of securing a deal for the free agent forward.

Initial contract discussions with Fritsch have progressed nicely in recent months, with the 29-year-old keen to stay at the Demons where he is seen as a key part of new coach Steven King's plans.

Fritsch's name surfaced as a potential trade target for rivals last season, only for the five-time club leading goalkicker to privately reaffirm his commitment to the club late in the year.

TRADE HUB All the latest player movement news

The 171-game player is among the leading free agents in this year's pool and is part of an intriguing crop at Melbourne, with Tom Sparrow and Kade Chandler also facing free agency decisions.

Fritsch is expected to provide a veteran presence in a new-look Demons attack this season, which will also include off-season recruits Brody Mihocek and Latrelle Pickett. – Riley Beveridge

I’d personally wait a few weeks to see if he’s got any interest in handballing, tackling and putting his head over the pill before I’d offer a lucrative deal. We can’t have senior players with conditional effort during a rebuild.

Chuck in free dog training and I reckon he will sign.

@Ghostwriter with all respect, a friendly piece of advice and for you own sanity and well being avoid this thread like your life depended on it. As close as you are to mama Fritta and how reliable your inside word is ( I don’t doubt it btw) Just let this one through to the keeper.

/end joke

7 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

@Ghostwriter with all respect, a friendly piece of advice and for you own sanity and well being avoid this thread like your life depended on it. As close as you are to mama Fritta and how reliable your inside word is ( I don’t doubt it btw) Just let this one through to the keeper.

/end joke

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

Good to hear. A genuine gun who will benefit greatly from a more open forward line and faster ball movement.

Must keep

Must keep

27 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

27 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

You feeling like you're bulles

28 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

You feeling like you're bulled

1 hour ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Chuck in free dog training and I reckon he will sign.

Look forward to seeing him on a long lead.

Sign him on a 7 year deal. If only to see Kane Cornes' head explode.

He needs a good solid Season

I think he will step up

65 goals….

One of the best mid sized forwards over the last seven or so seasons

Long may his outstanding contribution to our forward line continue

51 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

Well said. There are a few that fit into that category. Your contributions are well appreciated.

53 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

You need to start using the ignore function ghosty.

Lots of Demonland would have subbed him at half time of the 2021 grandfinal for James Jordon, such is their lack of respect for our best forward of the last 5 or 6 years

Hope he lands a supermaxx extension

Not far from 200 games, a great pickup. I’d love to see him snag a heap more for us over the next few years.

Plus factor: our most reliable goalkicker for the past few seasons.

Minus factor: work rate below par at times.

Verdict: definitely worth another contract.

Must sign in my opinion.

His second half of 2025 was quite good after a poor start (kicked 25 goals in his last 11 games) and he'll only benefit under King's faster paced game plan.

Mid sized forwards capable of 50+ goals a season don't grow on trees.

We should invite him to a tour of our new world class training facilities at the Vinnies Waverley High Performance and Community Centre ;)

Edited March 11Mar 11 by Demons1858

Must sign. A nice 3 year deal gets it done. Has the tools and role to play 3-4 more years at least.

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Sign him on a 7 year deal. If only to see Kane Cornes' head explode.

Kane will bag out our decision whether we re-sign or trade him wouldn’t matter

He is a finisher. He excels with space and a fast paced game plan.

If you want handballing, look elsewhere. He is one of the sweetest kicks i’ve seen

3-4 years will work. I can see some excellent assists and goal scoring from Bailey with our new game plan

2 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thanks GS, but I’d already made the wise decision to not engage in this discussion. I’m currently having a hard time dealing with elements of this forum, namely the bullying, which never fully goes away but at times is too much for me to handle. This is one such time.

Oh come on, give a dog a bone! (Not a finger bone, though).

Edited March 11Mar 11 by Ethan Tremblay

Must keep the Fritta!

Kane “the torpedo” or “volcano” (whichever it is) Cornes, seems to think that Fritsch will sign elsewhere. According to to bunions, Bailey is one of our last ‘bad boys’ (which is laughable).