Drunkn167

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.

Link to article- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/casey-demons-forward-bayley-fritsch-named-fothergillround-medal-winner/news-story/89337747bd3fc2fd472a94ad56f24279

He just won the VFL's "Best Up and Coming Young Player" Something like the last 14 years, every player to win this award has been drafted.

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.

What!?!?! This is news to me! He's still at work so I haven't spoken to him yet. I wonder why they've done this, if he was getting a debut I assume he would've been told by now, and he hasn't rang me to tell me so. So maybe they just want to use him as an emergency, or possibly a backup for finals?

Nice pic of Dec, got a decent write up too

Dec and Dion Jonhstone spent the weekend up in the NT doing community work, a good write up on their experience http://melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-05-27/dion-and-declans-excellent-adventure

This is my thinking too, if they play both Pedo and Dec to rotate through the ruck, it frees up Watts to stay up forward and have a formidable forward line with Hogan. But as I and others have said, he isn't quite ready for AFL yet and needs more developing, but you never know.

As much as I would love for this more than anyone to happen, Dec isn't ready for the AFL yet. Maybe some better form during the year might get him a gig but he needs at least another preseason in him.

Yep that'd be me

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-02-10/china-southern-arrivals-declan-keilty

Nice article about Dec in the local paper https://imgur.com/gallery/4V19X

Dec has been given jumper number 45

1 last thing I'd like to note, is his listed weight shows 88kgs, where the last time he weighed in he was up to 96kgs, pure muscle. A good pre-season in him and he will have a very competitive amount of strength.

If it's any consolation he was rated Number 1 this year in the VFL for one-on-one wins, mostly against key forwards.

There is a nice highlights reel - Declan Keilty

Declan had an interview with the Mebourne staff today about his draft prospects

Just got the word that the Casey staff members have said that Melbourne are indeed having a serious look at Declan

Pretty well spot on. The only thing I'd like to correct is his ability to ruck. You are right in the sense he can't be a full time ruck but he has an incredible vertical jump that can match/beat most AFL players and the few times he has rucked against AFL listed ruck/forwards this year he has either held his ground or won. His endurance is a bit on the average side and always has been and he definitely needs to work on it though

lol nice try but no

Just out of curiosity, who are you and how do you know us?

Only on the football field. He never really used too, his twin sister stole all the grunt. But it's amazing how he can go from chillaxed to completely switched on as soon as he steps onto the grass. He used to be the kid who would pick the opposition off the ground before moving onto the net contest, but not any more. Like earlier this year in Casey's second game v Collingwood which they lost, Dec cleared the ball at one stage and Aish, instead of trying to smother, went for Dec directly to try and take him out. Well Dec still got the clearance and Aish bounced off of him and landed on his back. Dec looked down, saw Aish, and immediately jumped on him. Really gave him a good hammering before being dragged off by 2 Collingwood players. Don't think so. When he finished his preseason with Melbourne this year he had a meeting with Roosey and the coaching staff which basically said 'sorry but we don't really have a place for you.' That might've changed since then, but I doubt it. Justin Plapp did tell us at the start of the year if Dec has a good year he will be drafted. We know for a fact the North Melbourne, Geelong and Essendon are looking at him, and the staff at Casey believe there is one or two more. He was invited to the state combine, and he did a day of testing with North at the end of last year where afterwards he was told they would be looking at him as a Rookie if he played VFL Seniors all year.

Sup. What would you like to know? I'll answer any questions as best as I can.