Fred Goldsmith (Australian footballer)


Fred Goldsmith was an 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 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 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.
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.
Fred Goldsmith has five great children, 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren