Bayley Fritsch

Bayley Fritsch was born on December 6, 1996. Early in his football career, he was overlooked for the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup. He instead played for Coldstream in the Eastern Football League, where his father was a club legend. At seventeen, he was recognized as the league rising star for division three and four in 2014, achieving notable goal-kicking records for both the under 19s and senior teams. Following this, he joined the Casey Scorpions (later Casey Demons) in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 2015. His first two seasons at Casey were affected by injuries, including a back fracture in 2015 and a knee injury in 2016.

His VFL career saw a turning point in 2017 when he played nineteen matches and scored forty-two goals, finishing as the runner-up in the Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal for VFL leading goalkickers. His performance led to his selection for Victoria in a state representative match against Western Australia. He received the Fothergill–Round Medal as the VFL’s best young player and was part of the VFL Team of the Year. He also placed second in Casey’s best and fairest award. His achievements during this season made him a strong candidate for the AFL draft.

Fritsch was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club with pick 31 in the 2017 national draft, making his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2018 season. He quickly became an integral part of the team’s forward line, known for his high-marking ability and precise left-foot kicking. A significant career milestone occurred in 2021 when he kicked six goals in the AFL Grand Final, contributing to Melbourne’s first premiership in 57 years. This performance earned him 10 Norm Smith Medal votes, placing him second best on ground. He has been the Melbourne Football Club’s leading goalkicker for five consecutive seasons, from 2020 to 2024.