EFL 2018: Bayley Fritsch returns to Coldstream as an assistant coach
MELBOURNE Football Club forward Bayley Fritsch has never forgotten where he got his start in the game. He reveals his plans as new assistant coach at Coldstream.
Eastern
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BAYLEY Fritsch has reached the game’s elite level but has never forgotten where he got his start.
It’s why he will be taking on an assistant coaching role at Coldstream next year.
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The Cougars announced last week the Melbourne forward would return to the club in 2019 in a part-time position, “bringing with him all the most innovative and current training methods, skills, strength and fitness principles and ball movement plans”.
Despite AFL demands, Coldstream president Ryan Kerr said Fritsch remained a regular down at the club.
“He’s pretty much down there every chance he can get,” Kerr said.
“Whenever he’s playing on a Friday night he’ll be down there on the Saturday.
“The only time he misses is if he’s playing a Saturday afternoon game. He’s a ripping kid.”
Fritsch has maintained links with the club since being drafted to Melbourne last year.
The 21-year-old played junior football at Coldstream before he was recruited to the Demons via VFL club Casey Demons.
He was named the 2014 Leader Newspapers Eastern Football League Division 3 and 4 Young Gun Award winner and won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal in 2017 as the VFL’s most promising player.
Fritsch’s grandparents Dianne and John Jefcott are life members, while his mother, Pauline, and father, Scott, are tireless volunteers around the club.
Scott remains the Cougars’ games record holder with 360 appearances, while brother Darcy plays senior football with the club.
Fritsch has also been helping with recruiting in the off-season as Coldstream looks to climb the Division 4 ladder after a seven-win season in 2018.
“He was keen just to help out when he can,” Kerr said.
“He’s not going to be there all the time but knowing him he’ll most likely be at training, if not one night a week, once a fortnight.
“Those guys have big commitments playing professional footy … it’s absolutely fantastic.”
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