The Coach's View of 2022 with Jack Fitzpatrick
Lake Wendouree host the Good Friday match - the last match of Round One - LIVE streamed tomorrow at 3.15pm on the Ballarat FNL Facebook page from CE Brown Reserve.
CLUB: LAKE WENDOUREE
COACH: Jack Fitzpatrick
FOR THE RECORD
(Scoop): Welcome Jack to the BFNL coaching ranks. Unfortunately, concussion issues cut your playing days short after 26 games with Melbourne and later Hawthorn in 2017. You're still only 30 years of age - what have you been up to in footy over the last four years?
(Jack): Werribee VFL Assistant Coach 2018-2019, Footscray AFLW Assistant Coach 2020-2021.
(Scoop): Heading into your debut season in charge of the Lakers, your job hasn't been made easier by the untimely departures of quality player personnel. Have the reinforcements arrived, or will the club focus solely on development from within?
(Jack): Reinforcements aren't everything, we've identified some good young talent that we're aiming to fast track and ultimately impact games. Liverpool ManagerJürgen Klopp won a title identifying talent within and just sort after top-up players to complement the group.
(Scoop): Name three non-negotiables (for the playing group) we would expect you to list on the whiteboard ahead of training and match days?
(Jack): Consistency, Concentration, Enjoyment.
IDENTIFIED STRENGTHS
(Jack): We are a work in progress. We will endeavour to play with excitement and flair - and be a fun and entertaining to club to watch.
IMPROVEMENTS:
(Jack): Consistency will be our greatest motivation. To remain in games even when we find ourselves behind - essentially bridging the gap between our best and our worst.
PRE-SEASON TRAINING
(Jack): It's all a bit of an unknown, at the moment. We've only played ten games in two years. Our priority is to improve fitness levels ahead of a full season. So far, I can safely say we are training well.
DRAW COMMENTS:
(Jack): I'm a firm believer that you have to beat the best along the way to play a part at the business end. Regardless of whoever you play twice, you more often finish the season where you deserve to.
PLAYER INS:
Scott Carlin (Warrnambool), Bayley Thompson (Camperdown), Tom Hunt (Daylesford), Harold Pritchard (Portland), Cody Helyar (Horsham Saints)
PLAYER OUTS:
Kai Lohmann (Brisbane AFL), Jake Lohmann (Maryborough), Sam Butler (Hawthorn AFL), Josh Rentsch (Sturt SANFL)
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
Scott Carlin (Geelong), Fergus Greene (Box Hill)
LAKERS PASS MARK:
(Jack): An understanding of the game style we're aiming to implement will carry more weight in measuring a pass mark over wins and losses. Consistency will also play a role.
IMPROVERS (TEAM OUTSIDE OF LAKERS):
(Jack): ... Tough for me to call in my first season.
FLAG TIP: (TEAM OUTSIDE OF LAKERS)
(Jack): North Ballarat. Macca coached me at Melbourne. His boys will be well-drilled, especially around the contested ball.