Jess Fitzgerald

Growing up in Bundoora, Victoria,{{cite web|title='I used to want to be Reece Mastin': 10 questions with Jess Fitzgerald|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/76323/-i-used-to-want-to-be-reece-mastin-10-questions-with-jess-fitzgerald|last1=Black|first1=Sarah|access-date=24 November 2021|date=24 November 2021|work=womens.afl}} Fitzgerald played with the St Mary's Greensborough Kookaburras in the Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) for four years from 2015 to 2018, amassing a total of 55 games with the team.{{cite web|title=Flying into the Kennel – Jess Fitzgerald|url=https://www.yarrajfl.org.au/2020/10/08/flying-into-the-kennel/|access-date=7 February 2021|date=8 October 2020|work=YJFL Media}} She won the league best and fairest in the Under 15 Girls division in 2017.{{cite web|title=The Grand Final has arrived...|url=https://stmarysgjfc.com.au/uncategorized/the-grand-final-has-arrived/|work=St Mary's Greensborough Kookaburras Media|access-date=7 February 2021|date=23 August 2017|last1=Gatt|first1=Chris}} Fitzgerald attended school at Maribyrnong College, a specialist sports school. She began playing for the Northern Knights in 2018, as part of a development pathway from the YJFL to senior football. She played 11 games for the Knights in 2019, kicking 3 goals and averaging 14.1 disposals a game.{{cite web|title=Jessica Fitzgerald|work=Aussie Rules Draft Central|url=https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/jessica-fitzgerald/|access-date=7 February 2021}} Fitzgerald was awarded the best on ground award for the Grand Final,{{cite web|title=Stunned Fitzgerald shines on the big stage|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fleader%2Flocalfooty%2Fjess-fitzgerald-named-best-on-ground-in-northern-knights-nab-league-girls-premiership%2Fnews-story%2Fbd1c40adaa8334a1143a9d36b7a4a60a&memtype=registered&mode=premium#command-form|url-access=subscription|work=Herald Sun|date=28 May 2019|access-date=7 February 2021}}{{cite web|title=Fitzgerald, Knights rebound from defeat|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/131221/fitzgerald-knights-rebound-from-defeat|date=30 May 2019|access-date=7 February 2021|work=AFL Media}}{{cite web|title=Ellie McKenzie taken at pick one|url=https://northern.starweekly.com.au/sport/ellie-mckenzie-taken-at-pick-one/|work=Star Weekly|date=6 October 2020|last1=Murray|first1=Tara|access-date=7 February 2021}} after she collected 16 disposals, four marks, five tackles and a behind. After the team's win, she stated "I'm not too much about the individual achievements, more about the team, I'll take it I guess, but really happy with the win."{{cite web|title=2019 NAB League Girls Grand Final|url=https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/2019/05/27/2019-nab-league-girls-grand-final/|last1=Williams|first1=Peter|work=Aussie Rules Draft Central|access-date=7 February 2021|date=27 May 2019}} She also played for Vic Metro in the 2019 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships,{{cite web|title=2020 draft prospects: Jess Fitzgerald|url=https://womens.afl/talent-pathway/draft/jess-fitzgerald|access-date=7 February 2021|work=AFL Women's Media}} playing two games, kicking a goal and averaging 14 disposals. She also played for the Northern Knights in 2020 but their season was cut short due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the short season, she played 3 games and kicked 2 goals, both coming in the same match against the Dandenong Stingrays, while also averaging 18.7 disposals.{{cite web|title=AFLW U18s Ones to Watch: Jessica Fitzgerald (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)|url=https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/2020/06/30/aflw-u18s-ones-to-watch-jessica-fitzgerald-northern-knights-vic-metro/|last1=Alvaro|first1=Michael|date=30 June 2020|work=Aussie Rules Draft Central|access-date=7 February 2021}} She was named the co-captain of the team alongside future No.1 pick Ellie McKenzie.{{cite web|title=Fitzgerald stays switched on|url=https://northern.starweekly.com.au/sport/fitzgerald-stays-switched-on/|access-date=7 February 2021|last1=Murray|first1=Tara|date=21 September 2020|work=Star Weekly}}{{cite web|title=The Doc's AFLW draft preview - Part One|url=https://themongrelpunt.com/aflw/2020/09/30/the-docs-aflw-draft-preview-part-one/|work=The Mongrel Punt|date=30 September 2020|last1=Docherty|first1=Alex|access-date=7 February 2021}}

Fitzgerald debuted for the {{AFLW|WB}} in the 1st round of the 2021 AFL Women's season, in the team's 9 point loss to {{AFLW|StK}}.{{cite web|title=Saints edge Dogs in battle of the Burkes|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/saints-edge-dogs-in-battle-of-the-burkes-20210129-p56xzu.html|last1=Burt|first1=Sarah|work=The Age|access-date=7 February 2021|date=29 January 2021}}{{cite web|title=TEAMS: Burke v Burke battle locked in, top Dog to debut|url=https://womens.afl/news/56965/teams-burke-v-burke-battle-locked-in-top-dog-to-debut|work=AFL Women's Media|access-date=7 February 2021|date=28 January 2021|last1=Cleary|first1=Mitch}}{{cite web|title=Bulldogs’ first game triple treat|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/854259/bulldogs-first-game-triple-treat|date=27 January 2021|work=Western Bulldogs Media|access-date=7 February 2021}} On her debut, she collected 10 disposals, 1 mark and 3 tackles.{{cite web|title=St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs - Player Stats|url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/136359|access-date=7 February 2021|work=australianfootball.com}} The very next game in Round 2, in the team's thrilling one-goal win over {{AFLW|Car}}, she was one of the Bulldogs' best on ground.{{cite web|title=An AFLW epic: Dogs overcome horror miss - and Tayla's 50m bomb - to claim thrilling win|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-womens-round-2-western-bulldogs-vs-carlton-live-scores-updates-video-live-blog-live-stream-aflw-stats/news-story/3f08bbe66391e6c1e29552170f65a3cc|last1=Waterworth|first1=Ben|work=Fox Sports|access-date=7 February 2021|date=5 February 2021}}{{cite web|title=Late Bulldog blitz leaves flag fancies winless|url=https://womens.afl/news/58606/bulldog-blitz-leaves-flag-fancy-blues-winless|last1=Black|first1=Sarah|work=AFL Women's Media|date=5 February 2021|access-date=7 February 2021}}{{cite web|title=McLeod makes amends as Bulldogs overcome Blues in emotional win|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/mcleod-makes-amends-as-bulldogs-overcome-blues-in-emotional-win-20210205-p5703n.html|last1=Ractliffe|first1=Damien|work=The Age|access-date=7 February 2021|date=5 February 2021}} In that game, she kicked her first goal, a running goal from 20 metres out, and also tallied up 15 disposals, 4 marks and a tackle.{{cite web|title=Western Bulldogs vs Carlton - Player Stats|url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/136365|work=australianfootball.com|accessdate=7 February 2021}} She won a rising star nomination for her performance in that game, alongside {{AFLW|Mel}} player Tyla Hanks.{{cite web|title=Dog, Dee ball-winning mids named R2 Rising Stars|url=https://womens.afl/news/59959/dog-dee-ball-winning-mids-named-r2-rising-stars|last1=Black|first1=Sarah|work=AFL Women's Media|date=8 February 2021|access-date=8 February 2021}} Her very next game saw her pick up arguably the best goal of the {{AFLW|WB}}' round 3 15 point win over {{AFLW|Gee}}, where she booted a 50m long bomb goal.{{Cite web|title=Dogs see off gallant Cats with late burst|url=https://womens.afl/news/60049/dogs-see-off-gallant-cats-with-late-burst|last1=Cleary|first1=Mitch|work=AFL Women's Media|access-date=13 February 2021|date=12 February 2021}}{{cite web|title=Western Bulldogs beat Geelong in AFLW as Ellie Blackburn, Jess Fitzgerald steal the show|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-13/ellie-blackburn-jess-fitzgerald-western-bulldogs-aflw-geelong/13152070|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 February 2021|access-date=13 February 2021}} A 2 goal performance in the {{AFL WB}}' upset win over {{AFL Mel}} saw her named as one of the team's best,{{cite web|title=Clinical Dogs hand wasteful Dees first loss|url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3307/wb-v-melb|last1=Twomey|first1=Callum|date=21 February 2021|access-date=21 February 2021|work=AFL Women's Media}} also collecting 12 disposals, a game-high 7 tackles and a behind.{{cite web|title=Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne - Player Stats|url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/137919|work=australianfootball.com|access-date=21 February 2021}} After having a relatively quiet end to the season, Fitzgerald won team's the Best Young Player Award.{{cite web|title=Blackburn claims second Bulldogs’ best and fairest|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/919085/blackburn-claims-second-bulldogs-best-and-fairest|work=Western Bulldogs Media|access-date=25 April 2021|date=24 April 2021}} It was revealed that Fitzgerald had signed a contract extension with the club on 16 June 2021, after playing every game possible for the club that season.{{cite web|title=25 Bulldogs locked in for AFLW 6.0|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/959491/25-bulldogs-locked-in-for-aflw-6-0|date=16 June 2021|access-date=17 June 2021}}

:Statistics are correct to round 6 end of the 2023 season.{{cite web|title=Jessica Fitzgerald- Player Stats By Season|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/Jessica%2BFitzgerald/21008|accessdate=9 October 2023|work=australianfootball.com}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFLW player statistics start}}

|- style="background-color: #eaeaea"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFLW|WB}}

| 23 || 9 || 5 || 6 || 47 || 44 || 91 || 13 || 37 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 5.2 || 4.9 || 10.1 || 1.4 || 4.1 || 1

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022 (S6)

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFLW|WB}}

| 23 || 10 || 2 || 1 || 56 || 58 || 114 || 15 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 5.6 || 5.8 || 11.4 || 1.5 || 3.9 || 0

|- style="background-color: #eaeaea"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022 (S7)

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFLW|WB}}

| 23 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 88 || 71 || 159 || 18 || 47 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.0 || 6.5 || 14.5 || 1.6 || 4.3 || 1

|-

| 2023 || {{AFLW|WB}} || 23

| 6 || 1 || 3 || 62 || 28 || 90 || 14 || 21 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 10.3 || 4.7 || 15.0 || 2.3 || 3.5 ||

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 36

! 8

! 10

! 253

! 201

! 454

! 60

! 144

! 0.2

! 0.3

! 7.0

! 5.6

! 12.6

! 1.7

! 4.0

! 2

|}

Fitzgerald supported the Collingwood Football Club in her youth.{{cite web|title=Get to Know: Jess Fitzgerald|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/829479/get-to-know-jess-fitzgerald|work=Western Bulldogs Media|access-date=7 February 2021|date=22 October 2020}} She cited her favourite AFL player to watch as {{AFL WB}} forward Cody Weightman, and her favourite AFLW player to watch as either Kirsty Lamb or Jaimee Lambert.

{{reflist}}

• {{Wbplayer}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}

{{Western Bulldogs AFL Women's player squad}}

{{2021 AFL Women's Rising Star nominees}}

{{2020 AFL Women's draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Jess}}

Category:2002 births

Category:Living people

Category:Western Bulldogs (AFLW) players

Category:Northern Knights players (Talent League Girls)

Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne

Category:People from Bundoora, Victoria

Category:People educated at Maribyrnong College