JACK Fitzpatrick is already thinking about life after football - and he is just 16 years old.
While playing for TAC Cup side Western Jets is a big focus for the teenager, he has already thought about a business career.
"I'm hopefully looking to do something like accounting and get a degree in that and maybe set up my own firm or something like that," Fitzpatrick said.
"It's really important to have life away from football."
The Jets forward is too young to be drafted this year, but doesn't see that as a bad thing.
"I'd be kidding if I said I didn't (want to play AFL)," Fitzpatrick said. "But I'm sure that'd be the same with every other kid.
"An extra year of knowledge, of physical and mental development. I can't see it hurting, regardless of whether I get drafted or not."
The TAC Cup has a bye this weekend to allow for Vic Metro and Vic Country practice matches.
Fitzpatrick will play for the under-17 Vic Metro side tomorrow at Victoria Park.
He bagged seven goals in the fourth-placed Jets' 34-point win against the Northern Territory last weekend.
"It's good to kick the goals, but you wouldn't be kicking them without the work of your teammates," the 199cm Year 11 student said.
Fitzpatrick first kicked a ball as a three-year-old.
"When I got old enough my dad started me at Auskick," he said.
"One night there were people at the local footy oval. Dad took me there, signed me up and I played the next week."
He played football in the winter and did athletics in the summer but the former state hurdling champion decided to focus on football.
Fitzpatrick was one of the youngest players on last month's AFL-AIS academy trip to South Africa.
"On the field I learnt so much with the coaches," Fitzpatrick said.
"Also off the footy field and just life in general. I realised how lucky I was.
"We went to an HIV AIDS village. It's weird to think if you go back there in a couple of months quite a few of them might not be there anymore."
Last Modified on 26/04/2008 08:34