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Bayley Fritsch

Bayley Fritsch 2022 DOB: 6 December 1996

Debut: Round 1, 2018 vs Geelong at MCG

From: Norwood/Coldstream/Casey Demons, selection #31, 2016 National Draft

Number: 31 (2018-)

Honours:
Best Young Player - 2018
Leading goalkicker - 2020 (20), 2021 (59), 2022 (55), 2023 (38), 2024 (41)
Premiership player - 2021
Goal of the Year nominee - Round 8, 2024

Games: 149* (to end 2024)
Goals: 252*
Career statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
8416456.37

Forward drafted after an impressive season with Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey, where he kicked 42 goals in 19 games. Fritsch had previously played for Coldstream in 2013 and 2014 after missing selection by the Eastern Ranges U18. After two injury-interrupted seasons, he was given his chance after being named the best young player in the VFL.

Fritsch appeared in 23 games in his first season, missing Round 5 then returning to play every game for the remainder of the year until being dropped for the Preliminary Final loss. He started the year playing forward but was also used on the wing and in defence. He started 2019 in the backline, before switching forward again with success late in the year. He remained forward in 2020, leading Melbourne's goalkicking in the shortened season.

In 2021, Fritsch was again the club's focal point in attack, pulling in career-best hauls of six and seven goals. He ended the year with 59 games, including six in the winning Grand Final - the first player to register that many in a decider since Darren Jarman in 1997. After his Grand Final heroics, Fritsch signed a contract extension tying him to the club until 2026. He led the club's goalkicking again in 2022, with a season tally of 55.22, the only player in the league to play a full season and kick a goal in each game.

After goalling in all but one game to that stage, Fritsch's 2023 was derailed by a foot injury in Round 16. He didn't return until the last game of the home and away season. Despite missing eight games he was still leading goalkicker, and led the side for a fifth consecutive year in 2024 with 41 goals.

Fritsch represented Melbourne in the 2018 Grand Final Sprint.

YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
2018 23170
2019 22204
2020 16221
2021 24593
2022 24550
2023 17384
2024 23414

Tribunal record

RoundChargeSanction
Round 7, 2021 Striking Cleared

Lists
Grand Final Sprint
Leading goalkicker

Media
melbournefc.com.au - 19/11/2021

Links
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile