Jack Fitzpatrick Biography

Ongoing concussion issues have forced Jack Fitzpatrick into early retirement at just 26.

Fitzpatrick was concussed in his only senior game of the season, in the round eight win against the Brisbane Lions and hasn't played at any level since.

He has been advised by doctors he should no longer play on.

"It's unfortunate that I'm unable to play the game I love any longer, but I'm rapt to have had the opportunity to be a part of two great clubs," Fitzpatrick said.

"The medical attention and care I've received from the club doctors has been outstanding and I really appreciate the support I've been shown from everyone at the club during what has been a pretty difficult time.

"I would like to thank Hawthorn for the opportunity to play in the brown and gold, the colours I grew up wearing as a kid, and to Melbourne for the six years of memories created during my time at the Dees."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is confident Ty Vickery will work his way back into the team after being overlooked for this week's clash against Brisbane in favour of rookie Jack Fitzpatrick.

"He was really close to coming back in this week to be fair," Clarkson said of Vickery.

"In this case 'Fitzy' put together six or seven great games of footy that just meant we had to reward the player who had been the better of the bigger fellas.

"Ty is playing well and he'll get his chance at some stage I'm sure."

Outgoing AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick says bench rotations was the top issue he wasn't able to fix during his tenure.

"The one thing I'd really like to kill is interchange, or at least get it down to a sensible number," Fitzpatrick said.

"We've got the cap in but we haven't got it to a level that would be sensible. Even if you're chairman or chief executive you don't necessarily get what you want."

Hawthorn select Jack Fitzpatrick with pick No.31 in the 2016 Rookie Draft.

"Our intention all along has been to get Jack back on our list and we are rapt that today we could make it official," Hawks recruiting manager Graham Wright said.

Matt Spangher is one of seven players delisted by Hawthorn.

Jack Fitzpatrick also departs the club after one season while defender Angus Litherland and midfielder Zac Webster have also been cut from the primary list.

Rookie-listed players Lachlan Langford, Jermaine Miller-Lewis and Alex Woodward have also been released.

Last-gasp hero Jack Fitzpatrick has given himself every chance to maintain his spot in the Hawthorn line-up after impressing in the Hawks' one-point win thriller against Collingwood.

Fitzpatrick played both in the ruck and the forward line and kicked two goals, including one from the centre square to tie up the match with just three-and-a-half minutes to go.

The big man has had a horror 2016 with a knee injury, followed by a lengthy battle with concussion after crossing from Melbourne in the off-season. His match against Collingwood was his first for the Hawks.

Hawthorn remains in the dark about Jack Fitzpatrick's expected return to football from concussion, with the big man still suffering lingering effects more than five weeks after copping a knee to the head.

Fitzpatrick wore some friendly fire during Box Hill's loss to Werribee on May 15, when teammate Kurt Heatherley leapt into a marking contest and accidentally collected him in the back of the head.

The former Demon, who has a long history of concussion, still isn't feeling "normal" and only ran laps at Waverley prior to Hawthorn's final training session last Thursday.

"He's still battling away with that. It's a bit of a worry for him and for us from a knock he got," general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said.

"He's still not feeling normal and with all the protocols around concussions now, Jack won't be playing footy until he feels normal again and I'm not sure when that will be."

Hawthorn secures former Melbourne tall Jack Fitzpatrick in a deal that sent selection No.94 to the Demons.

Fitzpatrick played just 22 games in five years for the Demons and was delisted at the end of the season after just three games in 2015.

"With the retirement of David Hale, we have been on the lookout for a tall forward/ruckman and we're happy to have secured Jack's services," Hawthorn recruiting and list Manager Graham Wright said.

Melbourne delists Jack Fitzpatrick as part of four list changes it announced on Friday.

Fitzpatrick joins Aidan Riley, Rohan Bail and Jordie McKenzie as those to be let go, as the Demons continue down the path of aggressively reshaping their list.

"All four players have had to overcome adversity at different stages through their careers and during their time at Melbourne," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"All four players had limited appearances at AFL level this year, but they were all consistent players for Casey Scorpions and we appreciate the effort they put in at VFL level and how it assisted the development of our younger players.

"They have all contributed right to the end of their time at Melbourne and we thank them for their contribution and wish them all the best for the future."

Diabetic Jack Fitzpatrick says Mebourne's new dietary regime has changed his life.

Diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2012, Fitzpatrick believes Melbourne's low carbohydrate/high-fat diet has helped him train at a higher intensity for longer.

"The simplest way of putting it is that I've gone from having four injections of insulin a day to one," Fitzpatrick said.

"It restores life to how it was three years ago before I was diagnosed."

Jack Fitzpatrick signs a two-year deal with Melbourne.

"Jack has shown signs this year that he can be a good AFL player," Melbourne general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said.

"He's kicked multiple goals in a number of games this year as a key forward and his ruck work is continuing to improve.

"Jack has had an injury interrupted start to his AFL career, but hopefully he can finish off this season [strongly] and have a good pre-season. We still think he's got a lot of scope for improvement in his game."

Jack Fitzpatrick credits Demons caretaker coach Neil Craig for his recent rise in AFL ranks.

"There were stages where I thought I'd played well enough where I personally felt like I deserved a senior call-up. But for one reason or another I wasn't quite in the side," Fitzpatrick said.

"He's (Craig) just given me that confidence to back myself in. He's told me, because it's a game of AFL footy, don't treat it any differently to how I would playing in the VFL.

"Craigy's put that faith in me and I've relished that the last few weeks."

Melbourne forward Jack Fitzpatrick has been diagnosed with type one diabetes, the club has revealed.

"This diagnosis affects Jack in all aspects of his life," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"However, the positive out of this situation is that Jack's symptoms were diagnosed early.

 Jack is aware of current and past players who have successfully managed diabetes throughout their careers, and has a positive attitude towards the future."

Former Richmond captain Dale Weightman, a diabetic himself, says he would be happy to talk to Demon Jack Fitzpatrick about his diabetes diagnosis.

"The main thing he has to do is get organised with a routine where he is able to train and play. He'll have to have a bit of different treatment to the other players because it's important he has the fuel in his system," Weightman said.

"It won't upset his training, as long as they all know what's going on. It's really all about preparation, before and after the game. You've really got to make sure you're eating the right food and doing the right thing to get through a game."

Jack Fitzpatrick makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at Adelaide Oval with 11 disposals (8 kicks and 3 handballs), 4 marks, a tackle, 2 hitouts and a goal in an 8-point loss to Port Adelaide.