Fred Goldsmith (Australian footballer)

Fred Goldsmith (20 August 1932 – 13 April 2017)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Fred Goldsmith
Personal information
Date of birth (1932-08-20)20 August 1932
Date of death 13 April 2017(2017-04-13) (aged 84)
Original team(s) Spotswood (FDFL)
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s) Full-back, full-forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1951–1959 South Melbourne 119 (107)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1959.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A fireman, Goldsmith started his career in 1951 as a half forward flanker, having been recruited by South Melbourne from Spotswood.

In 1952, he was shifted to fullback; and, in 1955, he became the first ever (and so far, only) specialist fullback to win the Brownlow Medal.[2]

To the astonishment of all, in 1956, South Melbourne decided to play its 1955 Brownlow Medallist fullback at full-forward. He played at full-forward for the remainder of his career. In 1957, he was South Melbourne's leading goalkicker with 43 goals.

He was captain-coach of the Albury Football Club in the Ovens & Murray Football League from 1960 to 1965. In 1966 he played nine games with Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association.

Goldsmith's 1955 Brownlow Medal attained $43,700 at an auction of sporting memorabilia conducted by Christie's on 17 April 2000.[3]

He was selected as an interchange player in the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans's "Team of the Century"' announced on 8 August 2003.

In a 1958 competition, held at the Lake Oval, Goldsmith kicked a drop kick that travelled 80yds 1 ft (241 ft, 73.46m).[4]

Fred Goldsmith has five great children, 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren

References
  1. "Vale Fred Goldsmith: Brownlow winner dies at 84". AFL.com.au. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  2. Jim Main, Aussie Rules: For Dummies (2nd edition, 2008) p 72.
  3. "Brownlow trivia". Footystats.freeservers.com. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  4. "Long kicks and the men who made them". Footystats.freeservers.com. Retrieved 13 April 2017.


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