The death of Fred Phillips
The death of Fred Phillips, one of the best-known and most popular footballers in the Victorian Football League, robs the Australian national code of one who was a credit and an ornament to the game.
News that Phillips had passed away at his home in Melbourne early last Friday evening came with an added shock for the reason that it was so entirely unexpected. The only intimation anybody had that Phillips was not well was a statement that he did not train on the Tuesday evening because he was feeling the effects of an injury to a foot sustained in a practice match the previous day. This injury, and a slight chill, kept Phillips to his bed on Wednesday. On the following day, serious symptoms appeared and made alarming progress. Despite all that the best medical attention could do, Phillips failed to rally. The cause of death was pneumonia, on which septacaemia supervened.
To his new job as coach and captain of Hawthorn, Fred Phillips brought that wholehearted enthusiasm and earnestness that was characteristic of him as a footballer. He had succeeded, too, in infusing much of that enthusiasm into his team, and Hawthorn were in high hopes that, under his leadership, they would be well to the fore this season. A great footballer, a true sportsman, and a man. That was Fred Phillips. Need more be said?
From Jack Worrall in the Australasian
Football followers were shocked on Saturday when they heard of the death of F. R. Phillips, the Hawthorn captain and coach, after a very short illness.
Educated at Scotch College, where he took a prominent part in athletics, Fred Phillips soon became known as a first-class footballer and a sterling sportsman. He was an enthusiast, a young man of sound opinion, and had the courage on all occasions to stand up for his principles. He was an ornament to the game of which he was such a fine exponent.
An injury to his elbow developed into blood poisoning, and, pneumonia supervening, he died on April 21.
The funeral at the Melbourne General Cemetery on April 24 was largely attended, all the football bodies being officially represented. The coffin was borne from the hearse to the grave by six of his football comrades.
Footnotes
Title: Fred Phillips dead: Fine footballer and sportsman
Author: First ruck
Publisher: Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886-1939)
Date: Wednesday, 26 April 1933, p.13 (Article)
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