Official Craig Fitzgibbon

Gards

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Outside of the spine which is more or less set (Hynes, Moylan, Kennedy) and selections forced from injury but not entirely (e.g. Dykes over Metcalf/Miller) Fitz doesn't seem to have a rigid set pecking order with his players.

Looks to pick players based on merits of each game/opposition/gameplan required with no doubt some consideration thrown in around player fitness, how they trained ect.

Most coaches have their pets or favs that get selected no matter what or they want to keep team cohesion and combos by selecting the same copy paste 17 every week but with Fitz we see a variety of different forwards and backs can be picked one week and then someone else the next - varying in experience, age, body type, ect. Miller, Tolman, Fifita, Jesse C, Ikavalu, Hazleton, ect ect.

It's not like he is chopping and changing selections because of form or bad performances as most of our players have been reasonably solid and consistent so it's not like they are getting dropped for someone obviously better necessarily.

Maybe this is Fitz way of spreading the game time and experience around the team along with balancing out player workloads keeping older players more fresh for finals while his younger fringe players will have some confidence and games under their belt.

Can't say it isn't working as despite the team disruptions and changes we keep on winning and it's refreshing in regards to coaching and team selections from a fan's perspective. It makes sense to keep the spine stable and the same week to week (assuming fit and not suspended) and shuffle some pieces around that as required or when deemed beneficial/necessary.

Maybe Fitz does have a best/set 17 in his mind that if avaialble he would play each and every week but it doesn't quite seem that way especially when it comes to the forwards/bench and who comes in from a depth point of view.
 
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andrew's_sharks

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Outside of the spine which is more or less set (Hynes, Moylan, Kennedy) and selections forced from injury but not entirely (e.g. Dykes over Metcalf/Miller) Fitz doesn't seem to have a rigid set pecking order with his players.

Looks to pick players based on merits of each game/opposition with no doubt some consideration thrown in around player fitness, how they trained ect.

Most coaches have their pets or favs that get selected no matter what or they want to keep team cohesion and combos by selecting the same copy paste 17 every week but with Fitz we see a variety of different forwards and backs can be picked one week and then someone else the next - varying in experience, age, body type, ect. Miller, Tolman, Fifita, Jesse C, Ikavalu, Hazleton, ect ect.

It's not like he is chopping and changing selections because of form or bad performances as most of our players have been reasonably solid and consistent so it's not like they are getting dropped for someone obviously better necessarily.

Maybe this is Fitz way of spreading the game time and experience around the team along with balancing out player workloads keeping older players more fresh for finals while his younger fringe players will have some confidence and games under their belt.

Can't say it isn't working as despite the team disruptions and changes we keep on winning and it's refreshing in regards to coaching and team selections from a fan's perspective. It makes sense to keep the spine stable and the same week to week (assuming fit and not suspended) and shuffle some pieces around that as required or when deemed beneficial/necessary.

Maybe Fitz does have a best/set 17 in his mind that if avaialble he would play each and every week but it doesn't quite seem that way especially when it comes to the forwards/bench and who comes in from a depth point of view.
I think some of this will be due to wanting to give players debuts and some game time due to earning it in the lower grades. Shows that he is noticing what they are doing.
 

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I think some of this will be due to wanting to give players debuts and some game time due to earning it in the lower grades. Shows that he is noticing what they are doing.

It's smart in that it keeps them keen and shows there is genuine rewards for form and a pathway into firsts, particularly as some older members of the squad get closer to retirement age.

Instead of 1 token call up a season (which would potentially have them thinking of looking at another club) when the main bloke gets injured there is a bit more a rookie/depth rotation going on.

Miller, Hazleton, Dykes, Jesse C ect taking some turns in the squad. They have all performed well so again it's not that they have had dud games and been dropped from consideration but instead are all getting a share of exposure to firsts.

Obviously Fitz has a responsibility and desire to win every game so he wouldn't bring these players in or pick one over the other if he thought they wouldn't get the job done or would jepordise the Sharks chances of success.

Also keeps some of the older blokes on their toes knowing Fitz has multiple depth options at his disposal and is willing to give alot of them a go, not just 1 rookie then back to his regular 17.
 
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It's smart in that it keeps them keen and shows there is genuine rewards for form and a pathway into firsts, particularly as some older members of the squad get closer to retirement age.

Instead of 1 token call up a season (which would potentially have them thinking of looking at another club) when the main bloke gets injured there is a bit more a rookie/depth rotation going on.

Miller, Hazleton, Dykes, Jesse C ect taking some turns in the squad. They have all performed well so again it's not that they have had dud games and been dropped from consideration but instead are all getting a share of exposure to firsts.

Obviously Fitz has a responsibility and desire to win every game so he wouldn't bring these players in or pick one over the other if he thought they wouldn't get the job done or would jepordise the Sharks chances of success.

Also keeps some of the older blokes on their toes knowing Fitz has multiple depth options at his disposal and is willing to give alot of them a go, not just 1 rookie then back to his regular 17.
Yeah absolutely, it's important to show the juniors that there's a legitimate opportunity through our pathways to play first grade.

And comments he made about Dykes being rewarded for not only his form in NSW cup but application to training and effort etc.
 

bort

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We've seen both Dykes (Miller) and Colquhoun (Hazelton) preferred to someone who debuted before them recently.

I think unforced changes in spine is worth avoiding, and in general also worth avoiding doing it in backs as timings and relationship can be very crucial. Easier to make changes in forwards.
I could see Hazelton perhaps beating Colquhoun to a jersey if we had only one of Hunt/BHU/Fifita playing (which hopefully wouldn't be the case again this season).
 

Sparkles

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Outside of the spine which is more or less set (Hynes, Moylan, Kennedy) and selections forced from injury but not entirely (e.g. Dykes over Metcalf/Miller) Fitz doesn't seem to have a rigid set pecking order with his players.

Looks to pick players based on merits of each game/opposition/gameplan required with no doubt some consideration thrown in around player fitness, how they trained ect.

Most coaches have their pets or favs that get selected no matter what or they want to keep team cohesion and combos by selecting the same copy paste 17 every week but with Fitz we see a variety of different forwards and backs can be picked one week and then someone else the next - varying in experience, age, body type, ect. Miller, Tolman, Fifita, Jesse C, Ikavalu, Hazleton, ect ect.

It's not like he is chopping and changing selections because of form or bad performances as most of our players have been reasonably solid and consistent so it's not like they are getting dropped for someone obviously better necessarily.

Maybe this is Fitz way of spreading the game time and experience around the team along with balancing out player workloads keeping older players more fresh for finals while his younger fringe players will have some confidence and games under their belt.

Can't say it isn't working as despite the team disruptions and changes we keep on winning and it's refreshing in regards to coaching and team selections from a fan's perspective. It makes sense to keep the spine stable and the same week to week (assuming fit and not suspended) and shuffle some pieces around that as required or when deemed beneficial/necessary.

Maybe Fitz does have a best/set 17 in his mind that if avaialble he would play each and every week but it doesn't quite seem that way especially when it comes to the forwards/bench and who comes in from a depth point of view.
I think the spreading it around is a reflection of the quality we have in the lower grades, too. It also makes a lot of sense to give them a few tastes of first grade experience to help prepare them for when our depth is really tested... depth is so important at the moment.
 
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I'm hearing talk this morning that our chairman Steve Mace has told DT journo Dean Ritchie that they want Fitzy long term and, not sure if this is a direct quote of Mace and there is certainly no mention of a contract, but they reckon he'll be with us for 20 years.
 

Gumby

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I'm hearing talk this morning that our chairman Steve Mace has told DT journo Dean Ritchie that they want Fitzy long term and, not sure if this is a direct quote of Mace and there is certainly no mention of a contract, but they reckon he'll be with us for 20 years.
If we’re winning then im happy with that.
 
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I'm hearing talk this morning that our chairman Steve Mace has told DT journo Dean Ritchie that they want Fitzy long term and, not sure if this is a direct quote of Mace and there is certainly no mention of a contract, but they reckon he'll be with us for 20 years.
By hearing do you mean it was on the back page of the Telegraph?
 

Shortfin Mako

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I'm hearing talk this morning that our chairman Steve Mace has told DT journo Dean Ritchie that they want Fitzy long term and, not sure if this is a direct quote of Mace and there is certainly no mention of a contract, but they reckon he'll be with us for 20 years.
I think that fits what Fitzy has in mind too since I believe he wants to build a legacy (like Bellamy).
 

Sharkyle

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Fitzy favorite for coach of the year? I know Ivan cleary has once again done an amazing job but has pretty much matched expectations with that team. Fitzy has come in and in his first season taken a very similar team who missed the 8 last year to potentially second and favourite to win the comp behind the panthers. I think if we do finish second and win game one I think he will surely get it
 
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