Bayley Fritsch | Demonwiki (original) (raw)
DOB: 6 December <1996>
Debut: Round 1, 2018 vs at
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)
Premiership player - <2021>
Goal of the Year nominee - Round 8, 2024
Games: 126* (to end 2023)
Goals: 211*
Career statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 1 | 52 | 57.93 |
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.
Fritsch represented Melbourne in the <2018> Grand Final Sprint.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| <2018> | 23 | 17 | 0 |
| <2019> | 22 | 20 | 4 |
| <2020> | 16 | 22 | 1 |
| <2021> | 24 | 59 | 3 |
| <2022> | 24 | 55 | 0 |
| <2023> | 17 | 38 | 4 |
Tribunal record
Lists
Grand Final Sprint
Leading goalkicker
Media
melbournefc.com.au - 19/11/2021