The rise and rise of Casey Demon Bayley Fritsch

FROM Casey Demons in the VFL to Melbourne Demons in the AFL: the rise of Coldstream junior Bayley Fritsch.

AHEAD of the 2015 season, Casey coach Justin Plapp spoke about the VFL club’s desire to have players drafted.

At that point the Scorpions (now the Demons) had last produced a draftee in 2011, Giant Tim Mohr.

“It’s time for us to get some kids up there,’’ Plapp said, noting it would bring credibility to the Casey program and act as a worthy recruiting tool for aspiring young players.

Mission accomplished. Last year the Demons had three players taken — Tim Smith and Declan Keilty by Melbourne, and Oscar McInerney by Brisbane.

Making it four draftees in 12 months, Bayley Fritsch made the rise that was expected of him when the Demons claimed him with selection 31 in last Friday night’s AFL national draft in Sydney.

It followed his 42-goal season and receipt of the Fothergill Round Medal as the VFL’s most promising player (all of the medal’s past 10 winners have been drafted).

Fritsch didn’t feature at the Eastern Ranges and was only 17 when he arrived at Casey from Eastern league club Coldstream. Almost immediately its football manager, Jack Henty, was talking him up as a prospect.

Henty declared him a “smokey’’, noting he had been the Eastern league’s 2014 Rising Star for Divisions 3 and 4.

Fritsch had another booster in then-Casey assistant coach Nick Rutley, who had played with his father, Scott, at Coldstream. Rutley had known Bayley since he was a boy.

“He’s untapped, Bayley. He’s still really green but he can catch it and he can kick it. The lack of time he’s had in the system is another thing in his favour, because he’s so far off playing his best footy,’’ he said this year.

Bayley Fritsch in Coldstream colours in 2014.

By the end of the 2017 season, after VFL team-of-the-year selection, state representation and standing out as Casey’s best forward (as well as standing on a few opponents’ shoulders with his spectacular high marking), Fritsch had many more fans, particularly in AFL recruiting departments.

The word is Melbourne took him at 31 because it feared an interstate club, most likely West Coast, would pounce.

“I’m over the moon. It couldn’t have turned out any better to be honest and I can’t wait to get started,” Fritsch told melbournefc.com.au.

“All of the recruiters didn’t give (anything) away and I had my fingers crossed, but when I heard it was Melbourne at pick 31 — I couldn’t have been happier.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of ‘Plappy’ and I wouldn’t have been where I am today without him. He’s been massive. I’m so happy that I’ll get to keep working with him in 2018 and hopefully beyond.”

Plapp, now Melbourne’s midfield coach, told Leader he recognised Fritsch’s ability “from day one of walking into Casey’’.

“He clearly had a lot of talent but injuries and the demands of VFL footy — finding that balance between work and footy can be a strain on them at times — held him back a little,’’ Plapp said.

“But for him to do what he did this year was quite amazing, really. He’s a very humble kid, he comes from a really good family and he’s got a lot of development in him, particularly physically. I think with the mixture of building his body in the Melbourne program and the footy smarts and skills that he has … he’s going to make a player.’’

Demons GM Matthew Young said the club was thrilled for Fritsch — and said Casey had more players capable of going on to the AFL.

He said it was “icing on the cake’’ that Melbourne drafted the left-footer.

Casey Demons forward Bayley Fritsch with the Fothergill Round Medal. Picture: AFL Victoria