Why Dees need Fritsch fit and firing; Port locks away Georgiades, Suns do same with Flanders

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In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:

• Dees sweat on fitness of finals specialist Fritsch
• Power and Suns lock away key trade targets

New statistics have revealed just how important Bayley Fritsch is to Melbourne’s chances of beating Collingwood in Thursday night’s qualifying final at the MCG.

The Demons remain optimistic the star forward will play in the blockbuster clash despite suffering fresh bruising in his return game to the same foot he fractured in early July. Scans showed he escaped any serious damage, but he will wear a moon boot on his sore left foot in the days leading up to the match.

Melbourne star Bayley Fritsch is a proven finals performer.Credit: Getty Images

Fritsch, 26, played through the concern to kick five goals in the round 24 win over Sydney, and the pre-finals bye came at the ideal time for him and Melbourne.

Champion Data numbers reveal that no AFL player since 2019 has made a greater scoreboard impact in the finals they’ve played than Fritsch, who kicked six goals in the Dees’ 2021 grand final victory over Western Bulldogs.

The September specialist’s total offensive impact in five finals across the past four years is 22.8 points, including 3.4 goals, one behind and 0.4 score assists.

The only opposition player who comes close to that is All-Australian Lion Charlie Cameron (19.1), while Isaac Heeney (16.5), Eric Hipwood (16), Jeremy Finlayson (15.5) and Toby Greene (15.3) are next.

Coach Simon Goodwin was thrilled with how seamlessly Fritsch fitted back into his forward line, which lost Jake Melksham to an ACL rupture, in another blow to an attack already missing Harrison Petty (foot).

Melksham thrived in Fritsch’s absence, to the extent Goodwin was willing to play them together.

He ranked No.1 at Melbourne between rounds 16 and 24 for goals, inside 50 targets, marks inside 50, and marks on the lead, while he was the seventh-best inside 50 target in the competition in that time.

“It’s been a much-spoken-about area for the whole year,” Goodwin said of his forward line.

“We’ve been able to find different avenues to goal throughout our time, and again [against Sydney], we went with a different mix for the first time, with Joel Smith, ‘Melky’ (Melksham), ‘Fritta’ (Fritsch) and Jacob van Rooyen – and it was looking quite dynamic.

“We’re going to have to have another look at what’s possible again, but that’s OK. We’ll find a way.”

Tom McDonald, Brodie Grundy, James Jordon and Charlie Spargo are among the Demons’ options to replace Melksham.

Trade targets reject rival interest to re-sign

Trade targets Mitch Georgiades and Sam Flanders have rejected interest from Victorian clubs to re-sign at Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, respectively.

Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders and Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades have both signed new deals to stay at their respective clubs.Credit: Getty

Georgiades, 21, and Flanders, 22 – both first-round draft picks in 2019 – inked contract extensions until the end of the 2027 season.

Jake Lever is now likely to see out his playing days at Melbourne.Credit: Getty

Fellow Power key forward Charlie Dixon, one of the last remaining restricted free agents on the market, also committed for another season, while Melbourne extended defender Jake Lever’s contract until 2028 to continue their strong track record of retaining priority talent.

Lever was already signed for next season, but the four-year extension means he is set to be a Demon for the rest of his career after starting at Adelaide.

There was intrigue about 191-centimetre Georgiades’ situation because he had been temporarily squeezed out of Port’s senior side when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury playing in the SANFL.

“When you look at the group we have and the relationships I’ve built, you just want to be a part of it – it’s too hard to leave that behind,” Georgiades said.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been my best year, but I’m just really grateful for the support I’ve had and for the club sticking by me. Now, I’m eager to get to work and repay the faith over the next four years.”

With Dixon also re-signing, there will be stiff competition for spots in the Power’s attack, with Todd Marshall, Jeremy Finlayson and the emerging Ollie Lord also on the list.

Victorian clubs on the hunt for tall forwards, including Richmond, Hawthorn and North Melbourne, will have to look elsewhere.

Flanders averaged almost 29 disposals after earning a senior recall in round 15 as he completely transformed his value internally and externally with a career-best burst of form. Keeping him as part of the Suns’ midfield became a priority for new coach Damien Hardwick.

St Kilda were among the clubs that expressed interest in bringing the Gippsland Power product back home.

“I’m super excited to announce I’ve signed on long term with the club,” Flanders said.

“I feel I am starting to play some high-quality football for the club and love the playing group here – they really make me feel at home. I can’t wait for what’s to come next year and really wanted to be a key part of the next chapter.” – Marc McGowan

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