Joel Fitzgerald
| Joel Fitzgerald | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Fitzgerald with Williamstown in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | 8 August 2003 | ||
| Original teams |
South Morang (NFNL) Yarrambat (NFNL) Northern Knights (Talent League) Essendon (VFL) Bundoora (NFNL) Williamstown (VFL) Hurstbridge (NFNL) | ||
| Draft | No. 16, 2026 mid-season rookie draft | ||
| Debut | Round 14, 2026, Melbourne vs. Essendon, at the MCG | ||
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Melbourne | ||
| Number | 47 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2026– | Melbourne | 8 (2) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Joel Fitzgerald (born 8 August 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Pre-AFL career
[edit]Fitzgerald played junior football in the Northern Football Netball League for South Morang and Yarrambat.[1] He played in the Talent League for the Northern Knights as a medium defender, averaging 28.1 disposals in 2021 and 30 disposals in 2022.[2]
In 2022, Fitzgerald joined the Essendon Football Club in the VFL.[3] Fitzgerald also played for Bundoora in the NFNL over the same time period.[4]
Ahead of the 2024 VFL season, Fitzgerald left Essendon and signed with Williamstown in the VFL.[5] The following year, in 2025, Fitzgerald changed NFNL clubs from Bundoora to Hurstbridge.[6] In 2026, having previously played exclusively at half-back for Williamstown, Fitzgerald made a successful positional move to the midfield[7] which saw him average 34 disposals a game.[8]
AFL career
[edit]Fitzgerald was selected by the Melbourne Football Club with pick 16 of the 2026 mid-season rookie draft.[9] He was selected to make his debut in round 14 of the 2026 AFL season.[10] He performed well on debut, having 26 disposals and 5 clearances.[11] At the end of the 2026 season, Fitzgerald placed third in the AFLPA Best First Year Player award, behind Willem Duursma and Harry Dean.[12]
Statistics
[edit]Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.[13]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2026 | Melbourne | 47 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 80 | 81 | 161 | 17 | 34 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 20.1 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Career | 8 | 2 | 2 | 80 | 81 | 161 | 17 | 34 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 20.1 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 0 | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Nine Victorians selected in 2026 Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft". play.afl. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Joel Fitzgerald". central.rookieme.com. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "2022 VFL squad locked in". essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "NFNL Alumni Among AFL Mid-Season Draftees". nfnl.org.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ Rhodes, Brendan. "Smithy's VFL List Update - 2024 Season". afl.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "BFC would like to congratulate past player Joel Fitzgerald on his selection in the 2026 AFL mid season draft!". facebook.com. Bundoora FNC. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ Rhodes, Brendan. "Geelong the clear team to beat in VFL". sen.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Mid-Season Draft | No.16 | Joel Fitzgerald". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ Beveridge, Riley. "Who did your club just take? Every mid-season draft pick". afl.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Double Debut | Demon duo set for the 'G". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Player Stats". afl.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "'Truly humbling': Superstar Daicos in rare air as courageous skipper doubles up". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Joel Fitzgerald". AFL Tables. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
External links
[edit]
- Joel Fitzgerald's profile on the official website of the Melbourne Football Club
- Joel Fitzgerald's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Joel Fitzgerald at AustralianFootball.com
