Fred Goldsmith (Australian footballer)

Fred Goldsmith
Personal information
Date of birth	(1932-08-20)20 August 1932
Original team(s)	Spotswood (FDFL)
Height/Weight	183cm / 83 kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1951-1959	South Melbourne	119 (107)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1960-1965	Albury (OMFL)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1959 season.
Career highlights
1955 Brownlow Medalist 1956 Simpson Medalist - WA v VIC in Perth 1957 Leading Goalkicker South Melbourne (43 goals) 2003 Swans's "Team of the Century"

Fred Goldsmith (born 20 August 1932) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League.

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.

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 9 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.[1]

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).[2]

External links

• Fred Goldsmith's statistics from AFL Tables
• Fred Goldsmith's profile from AustralianFootball.com