It’s a Big Year for… Zac Fisher

Written By Ari Stamatakos 

Throughout the 2021 Pre-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club. 

For what should be an exciting and intriguing 2021, let's take an in-depth look at players who are destined for a big year, or must have a big year in 2021.

It's a big 2021 for Carlton’s #25 – Zac Fisher.

Injuries plagued Zac Fisher in 2020, missing nearly half the season with a syndesmosis injury, before returning with a 4 goal haul against the West Coast Eagles in his new role as a goal crumbing forward. Following his return, he played consistent yet un-amazing footy floating between deep forward and higher up on the wing. At first indifferent to playing a new role, he then had a change of mind, stating to David Teague on a phone call that “coach … I'm going to be the best small forward I can be”. 

After his 4 goal haul in his return game, he only managed 2 more for the season, however, his pressure play was on full display. Ranking above average in pressure acts (14) and tackles inside 50 (1.1). With silky feet, agility and centre of gravity to pivot and pirouette through any oncoming defenders, he has proven time and time again that he has become a hand full to defend. Overall in 2020, he averaged 3 inside 50’s and 5.3 ground ball gets, both ranking elite in the competition amongst his fellow forwards. Also averaging 8.4 effective possessions and 5.8 contested possession, both ranking above average. 

The Off-season has been a big one for Zac Fisher, putting on 4kg and working on his body, this should help aid his sometimes lightweight frame which gives him the tendency to be pushed out of contests and marking contests. This has already been taken into effect with a couple of contest base goals kicked for ‘Fish’ in both of our pre-season hit out against Essendon and St. Kilda. This could add another level to his game and make him even harder to defend then he already is. 

The Best Case Scenario

Well in his words, he wants to become “the best small forward [he] can be”, so the best-case scenario is that he does become that. Starting with ball use, he can be sometimes a little bit profligate, and it shows in his stats, only having a Disposal Efficiency of 62.6% and as well as this, he only manages 49.1% Kick Efficiency and for him to get to where he wants to get to then he must improve on this metric. Consistency is another area for him to improve which can allow him to achieve his best-case scenario. Only averaging 0.8 goals last season, around 1.3 goals a game should be the level which we need him to be, for reference, Dan Butler averaged 1.5 goals last season, which is considered elite in the competition. 

He could quite easily be our next Eddie Betts or a player in that similar mould. Quick feet and a cheeky eye for goal, with Eddie more than likely playing his last season, “Fish”, along with the like of Cory Durdin and others would be looking to stake a claim for the next best small forward at this club. 

Overall Expectations 

The overall expectation shouldn’t be too extravagant, if you take into consideration that he is a young player who has just come off an injury and playing in a different position, for him to do anything extraordinary would be a massive accomplishment. Should he be playing as a deep crumbing forward then at least a goal a game for someone who we have heavily invested in. Should he be playing a little bit higher up on the field, somewhere around the high-half forward/wing position, then a much a similar disposal count would be the expectation to those of his 2019 season, as well as a similar goal tally. 

He is such a dynamic player that naturally, he will have off games, such a mercurial player like him won't and doesn’t perform at his best on an every-game basis. However, he should aim to ensure that when he does have his off games, he still has an impact, whether it’s on the scoreboard, with his pressure or that one moment of magic we all want to see from him. 

Status Leading Into 2021 - Consistent First Team Player.