Fred Smith (Australian footballer)

Fred Smith (30 August 1941 – 21 June 2024) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL)[1] and Sturt in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).[2]

Fred Smith
Personal information
Full name Frederick Smith
Date of birth (1941-08-30)30 August 1941
Date of death 21 June 2024(2024-06-21) (aged 82)
Original team(s) North Reservoir
Height 196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1961 Collingwood 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1961.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A ruckman, Smith was recruited from North Reservoir Football Club and won two best and fairests for the Collingwood Under 19s[3] before making his senior debut in Round 5 of the 1961 VFL season, against Fitzroy at Collingwood's home ground Victoria Park.[4]

Returning to the Collingwood reserves, Smith's season was impacted by injuries and he moved to Sturt for the 1962 SANFL season.[3] Smith's first season with Sturt saw him become one of the leading ruckmen in the SANFL, winning selection for South Australia and named in the Adelaide Advertiser's Team of the Year.[3]

Smith however continued to battle injuries, missing almost the entire 1963 SANFL season to a knee injury and was then hit by a car in early 1964, eventually leading to his retirement.[3]

Following his retirement, Smith ran coaching clinics for juniors, including trips to regional South Australia.[5]

In April 2024, it was revealed that Smith was battling Non-Hodgkin lymphoma but was still well enough to meet some of the current Collingwood squad when they were in Adelaide.[3]

Smith died in Adelaide on 21 June 2024 from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[2]

References
  1. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 827. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  2. "Vale Fred Smith and Keith Bromage". collingwoodfc.com.au. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. "Former U19 Ruckman Reconnects", AFL Record, Australian Football League: Melbourne, 20 April 2024, p. 34.
  4. "Fred Smith". AFL Tables. Paul. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  5. "League Football instructors". State Library of South Australia. State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
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