Australian Football

After struggling to make the grade as a half forward flanker, South Melbourne's Spotswood recruit Fred Goldsmith found an unexpected niche at full back midway through his second VFL season. From that point on, he never looked back, and his status among the greats of the game was emphasised in 1955 when he became the first full back to win the Brownlow Medal. Spectacular overhead and difficult to beat on the ground, Goldsmith also boasted the trademark full back's penchant for prodigious, accurate kicking. Later in his VFL career, he returned to the forward lines to good effect. 

After 119 VFL games and 107 goals for South from 1951 to 1959 Goldsmith joined Ovens and Murray Football League side Albury as captain-coach, remaining there for seven seasons. He returned to the city with Port Melbourne in 1966 - the very season, ironically, that Albury managed to secure its first flag in a decade - but added just nine VFA games to his tally.

Fred Goldsmith was selected on the interchange bench in the official Sydney/South Melbourne 'Team of the Century'.

Author - John Devaney