“A CULT hero? He’s a fair way, away from that I would think, but that’s something for our supporters to look forward to, provided Jack continues to improve. With the attitude that he’s got, I’m sure he will.”

Coach Neil Craig might’ve been trying to temper the expectations of eight-gamer Jack Fitzpatrick, but after he kicked three goals, had 17 disposals and took eight marks against the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Sunday, he is quickly becoming a cult figure among the red and blue faithful.

Why?

Well, Fitzy is not your norm, but that’s meant in a good way. He’s a likeable and personable young man who stands out in the often homogenised AFL world.

He’s his own person.

There’s not too many 200 cm talls who can run at his pace, either. He’s a strong mark, and is not always orthodox in his style of play. His kicking has been an issue over his football journey, but he has worked on it considerably. 

What’s really impressive about Fitzpatrick is that he’s had to deal with plenty of adversity along the way. Chronic fatigue, several injuries and more recently diabetes, which he now manages, have been thrown his way.

But he has taken it in his stride.

As a player, Fitzpatrick has got genuine AFL attributes. He has started to show them in his past two matches. Having also been given consecutive matches – he has played the past five – has helped his cause.  

Naturally, Craig said Fitzpatrick has areas to work on, yet the fact he has shown plenty in his past two matches is not only exciting for his own game, but for the Demons. 

“He’s got some fantastic attributes. His speed for a guy his size is exceptional. The thing I really enjoyed was some of his aerial, contested work. He needs to continue to work on his ruck [work], but he’s got a great attitude to his footy,” the coach said after Melbourne’s 31-point loss to the Swans.

Fitzpatrick’s teammates, including leaders Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones and Colin Garland, were also delighted with their teammate’s efforts.  

“I thought he was superb. He was a really good target up forward. He kicked a few goals and took a few good marks, but he provided a really good contest as well,” Grimes told melbournefc.com.au.

“He’s probably been a bit of a project in the making, but now that he’s put on a bit of size, you can see his physical attributes out there – his speed and how well he moves for his size.

“He’s got the confidence with the games at the moment, and I think he can be a real weapon because there are not many blokes in the AFL at that size, who can run as quickly as him.

“It was a real big step in the right direction for Fitzy - I’m sure he’s taking every opportunity he’s getting at the moment and he doesn’t want to lose that spot he’s got up forward, so he’ll keep working hard.”

Jones said Fitzpatrick had “put in a lot of work” ever since being drafted at No. 50 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.     

“If he can go back and slot a few more of those goals, he’s going to be a really dangerous target for us. There are not many 200-plus cm blokes who can run like him – he runs like the wind,” the vice-captain said.

“He’s a really exciting prospect for us and hopefully he’ll continue to play well.”

Garland said Fitzpatrick’s improvement had been significant.

“Jack’s been at the club for four or five years now and he’s come a fair way from when he first got to the club,” he said.

“But as Neil said, I think this is the first time he’s really earned his spot. He’s probably played three, four or five games in a row in the VFL of outstanding footy. That’s just translated into AFL level.

“As Neil said, he’s still got a fair way to go, but his attitude, his marking and leading patterns at training with Leigh Brown, his forward coach, have been pretty exceptional. He just needs to keep working on those little things that are going to make him a good player.”

And judging by his past two weeks, he’s got the ability to become that.