Almanac Teams – A Festival of Freds
A Festival of Freds
Fred was a popular name throughout the first half of the 20thcentury, although it did seem to reach an apex in the 1950s as this team indicates.
Fred is the favoured shorter version of Frederic, Alfred and Wilfred. I used to love reading about the 1945 ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final in Graeme Atkinson’s Book of VFL Finals. One passage that I particularly enjoyed involved a fiery Carlton winger named in this team: “Two police seized an overcoated man and hurried him off the field to the officials’ seats beside the arena – it was stormy Carlton winger Fred Fitzgibbon, already under suspension after the preliminary final, who had rushed onto the ground to join the fight.”
Now that’s a team player.
The fullback line in this team is a ripper. All three players could fill the key position.
What would be the most apt collective noun for a team of Freds?
Almanackers, here is your chance to nominate your favourite Freds from Australian Football. Nominations outside the VFL/AFL always welcome and encouraged.
B: Goldsmith (SthM) Swift (Rich) Phillips (StK)
HB: Froude (Coll) Hughson (Fitz) Heifner (Rich)
C: Fitzgibbon (Carl) Baring (Ess) Fairweather (NthM)
HF: Green (Ess/StK) Flanagan (Geel) Wooller (Geel)
F: Cook (Foots) Fanning (Melb) Burge (Rich)
Ruck: Way (SthM) Leach(Coll) Smallhorn (Fitz)
Inter: Stafford (Carl) Wain (Haw) Gallagher (Ess) Metcalf (NthM)
Coach: Elliott (Carl)
Umpires: Sawyer, Green, Rooney
Entertainment: Freddie Fender
For more novelty teams click HERE
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About Phillip Dimitriadis
Carer/Teacher/Writer. Author of Fandemic: Travels in Footy Mythology. World view influenced by Johnny Cash, Krishnamurti, Larry David, Toni Morrison and Billy Picken.
Well played, LB.
I reckon Freddie Mercury was a handy entertainer also.
And some Freddo Frogs for a half-time sugar fix?
Is the bloke in the back pocket meant to be the 1955 Brownlow Medallist? If so, he didn’t play for Fitzroy, Phil
G’day Phil. Good seeing the selection of Fred Way in the first ruck. One of Berrigan’s favourite sons.
Fred Fielding played for Collingwood and South Melbourne early last century.
He was killed in the bloody fighting at Villers Brentoneux in August 1918.
Glen!
Fred Cook. Legend! did it all, on and off the field
As the front man for the B52s, Frederick William Schneider III could handle the entertainment too. “Love Shack” has been relevant to most clubs at some point.
Good job, Phil.
Fred Pemberton, who was a gun full forward in’58 for Glenelg should come into consideration.
Fred Medley was a brilliant SA and West Torrens baseball pitcher and power batter
Fred Nurke, one of the characters in the GOON SHOW deserves consideration
For entertainment, how about FREDDY FEELGOOD AND HIS FUNKY LITTLE FIVE PIECE BAND
Then, of course, we have Freddy Freeman who, on saying SHAZAM, is magically changed into Captain Marvel Junior. For all of you that don’t know, the late great ELVIS PRESLEY was a great Captain Marvel Junior fan and had a big collection of his comics.
OOPS I’ve done it again. Freddy Freeman actually said the name of his hero, CAPTAIN MARVEL and not SHAZAM (that was Billy Batson’s word) to be transformed in CAPTAIN MARVEL JUNIOR
Incidentally, another Freddy Freeman plays Major League Baseball in America. Actually he spells his name Freddie.
Just thought of another famous Fred. SIR FREDERICK POTTINGER of the NSW police force. He was the officer that burned BEN HALL’S ranch house to the ground whilst Hall was unfairly imprisoned for horse stealing. Hall, of course, then went on to become a notorious bushranger.
Many believe it was Pottinger’s hounding that was a large reason Hall turner to crime. Anyway Phil, let’s leave him out of the team.
Australia’s second most famous sporting DK, Dennis Keith ‘Fred’ Phillis – Glenelg goal machine and 69 Magarey winner.
Woodville’s Fred Hansch played in the first SANFL game that I ever saw.
But most of all, of course we have Fred ‘Chocka’ Bloch – https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/chocka-bloch/
Me again Phil – Fred had a song about him – RIGHT SAID FRED
FRED TRUMAN wasn’t a bad cricketer either.
Science fiction writer FRED BROWN was the master of short stories. I have some of his books, his yarns are quite clever.
The team could enjoy listening to recordings of JOHN FRED and his PLAYBOY BAND singing Judy in disguise with glasses.
Also, back in the forties, when C C Beck drew the ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL for Fawcet comics, he chose the then famous movie star FRED McMURRAY as hid model for the Captain..
Bit to top heavy Phil – I think their are six blokes there who played at full forward. Any other nippy Freds around except “Chicken”?
Trust those crow eaters to throw in their six penth!!
I realise Fred Cook played for Footscray, but I think most Victorians would think of Fred Cook as a Port Melbourne player. He became a legend (for both positive and negative reasons) at the Borough.
Excellent work Phil. I didn’t realise Fred Cook played at VFL level in the 60s before his Port days …and reading up on him, I see he was originally a backman/ruck before becoming a full forward after a heart attack during a VFA game. A very colourful character indeed. Which begs the question: a team of jailbirds? It would be a very handy team with Big Nick in the ruck,Tuddy, Cousins, etc. Though it might be hard to come up with a full XVIII.
Speaking of ruckmen, FRED GWYNNE of the MUNSTERS fame would be ideal in that role
Great contributions folks. FISHO you are on fire !! Right Said Fred is too sexy for this thread, alas ! Fred Gwynne would make a great ruckman. Terrific choice !
Wally – Correct weight. Typo on my behalf. Fred Goldsmith a South Melbourne legend.
Smokie – Freddie Mercury has been a tad overexposed of late so that’s why I gave the boy Fender a run just to mix things up. Freddo Frog a must as mascot and half time energy hit.
Glen – Hard to find a decent Fred ruckman. Fred Fielding a great old nom.
Richardagar – Fred Cook’s story should be made into a movie, if they can find a way to cram it all into 2 hours!
Mickey – Great get with B52s front-man. Love Shack, Private Idaho and now Roam since free agency all apt.
Citrus – Good point. Hard to find many fleet footed Freds. Many hand big fellas though.
Swish – Was waiting for the great Fred Phillis to be mentioned.
Dave – Fred Cook a legend at Port. Some of his World of Sport appearances have remained with me. Did that bloke get any sleep?
Damo – A team of ‘Colorful Characters’ rather than jailbirds for a bit of nuance perhaps. Great idea although most would be from Collingwood !
Some more famous sporting Freds:
Couples
Perry
Kanoute
Spofforth
And from cartoon/entertainment world:
Flintstone
Bassett
Bear
Astaire
McMurray
Would Fred Campbell be the most recent Fred (12 games for St Kilda & Sydney in 1999 & 2000)?
Fred Cook’s biography by Paul Amy is one of the best footy books I’ve read.
My favourite Fred (aside from ‘the demon’ Spofforth) is Helbert Frederico Carreiro da Silva, known more widely as just ‘Fred”, who lit up the A-League in 2006/07 for the Melbourne Victory, then returning for a less successful stint with the then Melbourne Heart in 2011.
Offred (The Handmaid’s Tale) to lead the women’s team?
Freddie and the Dreamers could ‘Do the Freddie’ to fire up the crowd at half time.
Fred Schepisi as club director?
Cheers, Burkie