Fred Swift
Encyclopedia
Frederick Norman "Fred" Swift (6 July 1938 – 28 April 1983) was an Australian rules football
er who played in the Victorian Football League
for the Richmond Football Club
between 1958 and 1967, and captained the club to a premiership in 1967. He also played first grade cricket with the Eaglehawk Cricket Club, in the Bendigo and District Cricket Association
.
Swift was murdered during a home invasion at his farm at Lockwood, near Bendigo, Victoria
, on Thursday, 28 April 1983.
in the Bendigo Football League
. He played with their senior team coached by Kevin Curran
(and playing alongside Brendan Edwards
) from the time he was seventeen; and, at 19, he was the youngest player ever to win the club's best and fairest award.
In early March 1958, Richmond were able to come to an agreement with Sandhurst, and Swift was allowed to travel to Melbourne to train with Richmond.
He starred in Richmond's 1958 pre-season practice games – "he marked well, played on with determination once the ball hit the ground, and frequently sent his side into attack with long, driving kicks into the goal mouth" — and, by mid-April 1958, nineteen years old Swift, regarded by Richmond as the "recruit of the year", was finally cleared to the Tigers.
Because it seemed certain that he would "definitely play for the Tigers in the opening game against South Melbourne
", it was thought during the week prior to the first match of the 1958 season that he had so well demonstrated his ability to play at centre-half forward, half-back flank, and centre ("where he gave what was probably his most impressive performance") that "he could fill any one of these positions in the game against South"; and, moreover, that "his natural ability is such that he would probably be successful no matter where he is played".
Although Swift had played at full-back at Sandhurst, he had not played full-back in any of Richmond's 1957 or 1958 practice matches; he had "played brilliantly at centre" during the practice matches in 1958 and had satisfied Richmond that he could "play in any position" – to such an extent that the Wednesday Age speculated that he would be picked at full-back, in place of the injured Allan Cations,http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/A/Allan_Cations.html on the following Saturday. He was, however, picked on the half-forward flank for his first senior game, in round 1, against South Melbourne
.
He was a highly talented footballer, with great anticipation, and highly polished ball skills, and he was equally at home in the forward line — he kicked 5 goals against Fitzroy in round 18, 1966; and, when moved from centre half-back to full-forward, in the last quarter against St Kilda in round 6, 1959, he kicked 3 goals, in a losing side – wing, centre, or in defence.
, was selected. In the interim, Crowe had injured his knee, and was forced to withdraw from the team. Richmond paid for Crowe's expenses to travel to the carnival with the team, and the allocated Richmond place in the Victorian team was taken by Swift. The Victorian team was coached by Len Smith
.
Swift played in both of Victoria's matches. He played on the half-back flank in the first match against Tasmania on 19 July 1961, until he injured his ankle and was replaced; Victoria won by 61 points: 23.30 (150) to 12.17 (89).
His ankle recovered and he played, again on the half-back flank, in the Victorian team that finished with 17 men, that was comprehensively beaten in an extremely rough and tough match by West Australian team, on Sunday, 24 July, by 9 points: 15.14 (104) to 14.11 (95). The West Australian team won the carnival competition; coached by Jack Sheedy
, the team included John Todd
, Graham "Polly" Farmer
, Ray Gabelich
, Jack "Stork" Clarke
, and Ray Sorrell
.
on Tuesday 4 September 1962 with Swift at full-back. Richmond beat Fitzroy 12.9 (81) to 9.10 (64).
In the semi-final match, on Friday, 14 September 1962, Richmond played against the strong favourites North Melbourne
. Swift played at full-back, and was best on the ground. Richmond beat North Melbourne 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62).
The final match of the series was originally scheduled to be played at the Lake Oval
on Monday, 24 September 1962, but was moved to Wednesday, 26 September 1962 because of bad weather.
In the Grand Final, Swift was again best on the ground, playing at full-back against Hawthorn's John Peck, and as the team's captain in Richmond’s only ever Night Premiership victory: "Swift played a superb game at full-back repelling Hawthorn’s forward thrusts and marking everything that came his way" (Hogan, 1996, p. 300) and, according to the press, "his superb defensive play, in that game, was the difference between victory and defeat" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224). Richmond 8.16 (64) defeated Hawthorn 9.6 (60).
However, his knee did eventually come good; and, whilst playing a couple of matches in the Second Eighteen, to get back his touch and his match fitness, he broke a bone in his hand. This meant that he was not fit to resume his place in the senior team until the last round match against Fitzroy. He was selected at full-forward, and he kicked 5 goals.
. Jack Dyer
had suggested the move, on the basis of his own experience with a similar sort of knee injury, Dyer argued that, of all the positions on the field, full-back was the best for Swift, because he would have almost all of his play in front of him, and almost all of his running would be straight ahead, with a minimum of turns and sideways movement. In his first full match in 1967 at full-back, in round 16 (16 August 1967), against Hawthorn
, at Glenferrie Oval
, despite fears that he was too short to play against Hawthorn's champion full-forward, Peter Hudson
, who was 3½ inches taller, Swift held Hudson to three goals, and Richmond won the match, thrashing Hawthorn 23.30 (168) to 7.12 (54).
, he not only captained his team to a premiership, but he was one of the best on the ground, somewhat nullifying the impact of the temperamental Geelong hairdresser and champion full-forward, Doug Wade
, who was nearly five inches (11 cm) taller and more than two stone heavier (14 kg), and was widely expected to out-class Swift. Wade, the season's top goal-kicker, who had scored 79 goals during the home-and-away section of the season (including 6 goals against Swift, and Richmond, in round 18), and 8 and 5 goals in the semi-final and preliminary finals against Collingwood
and Carlton
respectively, was clearly outplayed in the Grand Final, and was held to just 4 goals by Swift.
Although Geelong was the first to score, Richmond was a goal in front by quarter time: 4.3 (27) to 3.3 (21). By half time, Richmond had increased its lead to 16 points: 9.10 (64) to 7.6 (48). Geelong fought back during the third quarter and, at one stage, led by 14 points; however, Richmond counter-attacked and the scores were level. And, then, two rushed behinds right at the end of the quarter, saw Richmond two points ahead at three-quarter time: 12.15 (87) to 13.7 (85).
In one of the most exciting last quarters ever, Richmond was in front, then scores were level, then Geelong was in front, then scores were level, then Richmond was in front, then scores were level; and then it was time on.
Richmond’s John Ronaldson
kicked a goal (his third for the match) to put Richmond six points ahead, and then a goal from Kevin Bartlett, backing out of the pack, increased Richmond’s lead to twelve points. Geelong then ferociously surged back into the game when "Polly" Farmer
(playing his last game for Geelong) handpassed the ball to Wayne Closter
, who kicked the ball goal-wards towards Wade (Geelong’s no.10) somewhere between centre-half forward and full-forward.
An almost exhausted Swift (Richmond’s no.15; and, as always, with the 5 askew), with great anticipation, leapt high in front of Wade and palmed the ball away to his right from in front of the pack. He raced back towards the goal square, just in time to intercept a kick from Colin Eales
and, to add insult to injury, ran across the face of goal, bounced the ball, with Wade in hot pursuit, and calmly passed the ball to John Perry
.
Both Tony Polinelli
and Bill Ryan
kicked poorly, each scoring a behind, placing Geelong ten points behind; and then, with plenty of time for Geelong to get another goal, and breaking out of a pack, Goggin punt-kicked what seemed certain to be a goal (which would have reduced the lead to a dangerous four points).
The tenacious Swift – already greatly tired from having to captain his team, counteract the stronger, heavier, and taller Wade, and kick the ball back into play after the eight behinds that Geelong had scored up to that moment in the last quarter), single-mindedly concentrating on his task, took one of the finest marks of his career at the Punt Road end of the M.C.G.
With the strong September afternoon sun shining directly into his eyes, without any opposition (with the goal umpire crouching in a perfect position to determine its legality), he first caught the ball perhaps ten feet above the ground (3m), right on the goal line, to turn Geelong away, and retain Richmond’s lead of ten points. He played on, and his clearing drop-kick almost hit the centre.
Moments later, Polinelli surged up the ground kicked Geelong’s ninth behind for the quarter; and, as Polinelli's kick went through, the siren sounded, with Richmond finally winning by nine points 16.18 (114) to 15.15 (105).
In the following week, Swift was made the Lord Mayor of Richmond City for the day; and a photograph appeared in the Melbourne press, entitled "The day Richmond belonged to him", with Swift, in full mayoral regalia, looking down over the City of Richmond from the roof of the Richmond Town Hall
.
Richmond did all it could to induce Swift's to stay in the following week, but he was adamant that he would not change his mind, and they parted on friendly terms.
It is also significant to note that, although Swift tasted success as the captain of a premiership team, coached by Tom Hafey
(who had played beside Swift in the Richmond first eighteen in the 1957 and 1958 seasons), in his last season with Richmond, he had also experienced Richmond being far from successful for most of his career; and, when examined year by year, Swift's career of 146 senior games clearly shows the extent to which he (and Richmond) had experienced hard times: 1958 season, he played 16 senior games (Richmond was 10th, out of 12 teams, at the end of the home-and-away season); 1959, 7 games (11th); 1960, 18 games (last); 1961, 15 games (10th) (in round 16, Swift played in the centre of a Richmond team that was beaten by St Kilda 12.19 (91) to 0.8 (8), the first time that a senior VFL team had failed to score a goal since round 11, 1921); 1962, 18 games (8th); 1963, 12 games (10th); 1964, 18 games (9th); 1965, 17 games (5th); 1966, 5 games (5th); 1967, 18 games (first), plus the second Semi-Final and the Grand-Final (premiers).
, and by former North Melbourne wingman, Leo Francis.http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leo_Francis.html At Richmond he had been coached by Alan McDonald
, Des Rowe
, Len Smith
, Jack Titus
, and Tom Hafey
.
In 1968, Swift was appointed captain-coach of the Corowa Football Club
. Under Swift's guidance the team, which had taken the wooden spoon in 1967, went on to win the premiership in 1968 from fourth position. Corowa beat North Albury
in the first semi-final, beat Myrtleford
in the preliminary final 11.19 (85) to 8.13 (61), and went to beat the hot favourite team Wodonga
(coached by ex-Collingwood rover Mick Bone
) in the Grand Final 14.11 (95) to 12.16 (88), with Swift playing at full-back. Swift was also the captain-coach of the Corowa in 1969.
He was captain-coach of the Morwell Football Club (also known as "The Tigers") in 1970–1972, and coach of the Kennington/Strathdale Football Club in 1978–1979.
, a former Richmond team-mate, a former Richmond coach, and a long-time friend of Swift, "The kids [who killed him] knew the layout of the house. Fred used to take them fishing".
They tied up his wife (Anita Charlotte Swift) and son (Paul Andrew Swift), and they began ransacking the house.
Swift arrived home soon after Larson and Lee's invasion; he got out of his car, went into the house to investigate, confronted the two, and was shot in the heart and in the thigh. He died almost immediately from his wounds. His body was not moved until nearly 6 pm that afternoon.
His murderers escaped in Swift's car. Larson was identified by Paul Swift (who had first met Larson two years earlier); and, despite Larson's disguise, Paul was able to identify him by his voice, his eyes, his build, and his clothing. Paul also identified Larson as the one who had been armed with the sawn-off .22 calibre rifle. The police immediately set up road blocks, and began to search the surrounding area. Soon Swift's car was found abandoned in bushland several kilometres from the scene of the murder. The police arrested both of his murderers late that afternoon.
On the morning of the following Sunday (1 May 1983), Ron Casey, host of the television programme World of Sport
, without any prior warning, unexpectedly asked one of the show's stars, the sports journalist, Richmond legend, former Richmond coach, and Richmond selector Jack Dyer, who had been responsible for suggesting Swift's move to full-back in 1967 in place of Mick Erwin, to deliver what amounted to a eulogy
. Dyer refused outright, and a very fierce argument broke out between Casey and Dyer; with Casey's will, as host of the programme, prevailing.
Many of the viewers, already deeply upset at the murder of such a brave, honest, courageous, and well-loved man apparently killed in defence of his family, were further affected by the mournful manner in which Dyer, who deeply respected and admired Swift, spoke. It was only later revealed that the reason for Dyer's initial refusal to speak on air, and his actual refusal to look into the camera whilst speaking – having been forced against his will, by Casey, to deliver the eulogy – was solely due to his having left his false teeth at home (a fact that he refused to reveal to Casey or anyone else at the time), and had nothing to do with any reluctance to acknowledge his own personal sense of great loss at Swift's murder.
According to the trial transcript (VR 559, p. 564) a clinical psychologist, Bernard Healey, had comprehensively tested Larson in May 1983 and found "that Larson [had] an I.Q.
of 80, which [placed] him at the lowest end of the dull range of intelligence and at about 9 per centum amongst people of his age".
In November 1983, a jury found Larson guilty of murder and armed robbery, and found Lee guilty of manslaughter and armed robbery; they were sentenced, by Mr. Justice Hampel, to life imprisonment and seven years' gaol respectively on Monday, 12 December 1983.
Four and a half years later, on 30 March 1988, Larson escaped from custody at the Melbourne City Watch-house in company with Paul Alexander Anderson (who had been imprisoned for car theft and other convictions). They were both recaptured in Adelaide, charged with firearms offences, and extradited back to Victoria.
Later, in 1992, Larson was again incarcerated for armed robbery, and was convicted twice in the first part of 2003, for separate assaults on police.
In November 2003, Larson (who was now living in Preston) appeared in court, facing 13 charges rising from an entirely unprovoked knife attack on three unarmed cleaners at Southbank at 2:00 am on 29 September 2003.
He is vividly remembered for his happy, smiling face, his rolling gait, and his gentle friendliness to all and sundry. At Richmond he was a greatly respected and very popular clubman, who was "always available to help the recruits with some friendly advice and took a keen interest in the development of the younger players ensuring that they fitted in well" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224).
A grandstand at the home ground of the Corowa Football Club was named The Fred Swift Stand in his honour.
In 1986, he was posthumously inducted into the Bendigo Football League's Hall of Fame.http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/bfls-gala-plans/1850109.aspx
The "Fred Swift Medal" is awarded in his honour each season to the player who finishes fourth in Richmond's
Best and Fairest
count.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
between 1958 and 1967, and captained the club to a premiership in 1967. He also played first grade cricket with the Eaglehawk Cricket Club, in the Bendigo and District Cricket Association
Bendigo and District Cricket Association
The Bendigo and District Cricket Association is the controlling body for ten combined senior and junior cricket clubs within the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia. Grades range from Under 11s, Under 13s, Under 15s, Under 17s, C,B and A grades. Games are played from October through to February...
.
Swift was murdered during a home invasion at his farm at Lockwood, near Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, on Thursday, 28 April 1983.
Sandhurst
He was recruited as a utility player from the Sandhurst Football ClubSandhurst Football Club
The Sandhurst Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Bendigo Football League . Sandhurst is the former name of the city of Bendigo.-History:...
in the Bendigo Football League
Bendigo Football League
The Bendigo Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia.Formed in 1880, it is one of the oldest football leagues in Australia, and among its members are some of the oldest football clubs in Australia, including the Castlemaine...
. He played with their senior team coached by Kevin Curran
Kevin Curran (footballer)
Kevin Curran was an Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1940s.Curran was recruited to Hawthorn from Traralgon and played his first game with them in 1940....
(and playing alongside Brendan Edwards
Brendan Edwards
Brendan Edwards Brendan Edwards Brendan Edwards (Born 18 March 1936 is a former Australian rules football footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League VFL from 1956 to 1961 and again in the 1963 season. He won their best and fairest award in 1960 and represented Victoria at...
) from the time he was seventeen; and, at 19, he was the youngest player ever to win the club's best and fairest award.
Richmond
He played in two practice matches with Richmond in 1957, but was not given a clearance; and he consequently returned to Sandhurst for the 1957 season.In early March 1958, Richmond were able to come to an agreement with Sandhurst, and Swift was allowed to travel to Melbourne to train with Richmond.
He starred in Richmond's 1958 pre-season practice games – "he marked well, played on with determination once the ball hit the ground, and frequently sent his side into attack with long, driving kicks into the goal mouth" — and, by mid-April 1958, nineteen years old Swift, regarded by Richmond as the "recruit of the year", was finally cleared to the Tigers.
Because it seemed certain that he would "definitely play for the Tigers in the opening game against South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
", it was thought during the week prior to the first match of the 1958 season that he had so well demonstrated his ability to play at centre-half forward, half-back flank, and centre ("where he gave what was probably his most impressive performance") that "he could fill any one of these positions in the game against South"; and, moreover, that "his natural ability is such that he would probably be successful no matter where he is played".
Although Swift had played at full-back at Sandhurst, he had not played full-back in any of Richmond's 1957 or 1958 practice matches; he had "played brilliantly at centre" during the practice matches in 1958 and had satisfied Richmond that he could "play in any position" – to such an extent that the Wednesday Age speculated that he would be picked at full-back, in place of the injured Allan Cations,http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/A/Allan_Cations.html on the following Saturday. He was, however, picked on the half-forward flank for his first senior game, in round 1, against South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Debut with Richmond
At nineteen, he played his first senior game for Richmond against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1958 season on the half-forward flank. Richmond unexpectedly beat South Melbourne, and Swift kicked one goal. One of the football writers of The Age commenting on his debut, said that, "Fred Swift was strange early but in the last quarter showed good football sense and ability on his half-forward flank. He should develop into a useful player.He was a highly talented footballer, with great anticipation, and highly polished ball skills, and he was equally at home in the forward line — he kicked 5 goals against Fitzroy in round 18, 1966; and, when moved from centre half-back to full-forward, in the last quarter against St Kilda in round 6, 1959, he kicked 3 goals, in a losing side – wing, centre, or in defence.
Reserves
In his entire career with Richmond, he only played five games with the second eighteen. He did not play his first match with the seconds until the round 16 match against Carlton at Princes Park on Saturday, 24 August 1963, by which time he had already played 83 senior games. Playing at centre half-forward, he was best on the ground, kicking 3 goals.Interstate football
Given Richmond's place on the VFL ladder, only one Richmond player could be selected in the Victorian Interstate team for the fifteenth Australian National Football Carnival, that would be held in Brisbane in 1961. Ruckman Neville CroweNeville Crowe
Neville Crowe is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1957 and 1967 for the Richmond Football Club. He served as Richmond's President from 1987 to 1993, at the helm of the club during the 1990 Save Our Skins campaign which saved the club from financial...
, was selected. In the interim, Crowe had injured his knee, and was forced to withdraw from the team. Richmond paid for Crowe's expenses to travel to the carnival with the team, and the allocated Richmond place in the Victorian team was taken by Swift. The Victorian team was coached by Len Smith
Len Smith (footballer)
Like his younger brother, the legendary Norm Smith, it is as a coach that Len is best remembered. During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s , he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960...
.
Swift played in both of Victoria's matches. He played on the half-back flank in the first match against Tasmania on 19 July 1961, until he injured his ankle and was replaced; Victoria won by 61 points: 23.30 (150) to 12.17 (89).
His ankle recovered and he played, again on the half-back flank, in the Victorian team that finished with 17 men, that was comprehensively beaten in an extremely rough and tough match by West Australian team, on Sunday, 24 July, by 9 points: 15.14 (104) to 14.11 (95). The West Australian team won the carnival competition; coached by Jack Sheedy
Jack Sheedy (Australian rules footballer)
John Cameron "Jack" Sheedy is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League . Sheedy is considered one of the greatest ever footballers from Western Australia, and is a member of both...
, the team included John Todd
John Todd (footballer)
John Todd is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. After becoming youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal in his first year of senior football he suffered a serious knee injury, which affected his playing career...
, Graham "Polly" Farmer
Graham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
, Ray Gabelich
Ray Gabelich
Ray Gabelich was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League .He came to Collingwood from Western Australia as a centre half-forward in 1954 too late to be listed...
, Jack "Stork" Clarke
Jack K. Clarke
John Kildahl "Jack" Clarke was an Australian rules footballer in the Western Australian National Football League .Clarke played as a ruckman for East Fremantle, making his debut in 1952...
, and Ray Sorrell
Ray Sorrell
Ray Sorrell is a former Australian rules footballer who played with East Fremantle and South Fremantle in the WANFL.A centreman, Sorrell achieved many accolades during his time at East Fremantle. He was a dual Sandover Medal winner, finishing equal first with Neville Beard in 1961 and then winning...
.
1962 Night premiership
Richmond played its first match against FitzroyFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
on Tuesday 4 September 1962 with Swift at full-back. Richmond beat Fitzroy 12.9 (81) to 9.10 (64).
In the semi-final match, on Friday, 14 September 1962, Richmond played against the strong favourites North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. Swift played at full-back, and was best on the ground. Richmond beat North Melbourne 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62).
The final match of the series was originally scheduled to be played at the Lake Oval
Lake Oval
The Lake Oval was an Australian rules football and cricket stadium located in Albert Park, Victoria. It was the home of the South Melbourne Football Club from 1878 until their relocation to Sydney in 1982 , and also of the South Melbourne Cricket Club...
on Monday, 24 September 1962, but was moved to Wednesday, 26 September 1962 because of bad weather.
In the Grand Final, Swift was again best on the ground, playing at full-back against Hawthorn's John Peck, and as the team's captain in Richmond’s only ever Night Premiership victory: "Swift played a superb game at full-back repelling Hawthorn’s forward thrusts and marking everything that came his way" (Hogan, 1996, p. 300) and, according to the press, "his superb defensive play, in that game, was the difference between victory and defeat" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224). Richmond 8.16 (64) defeated Hawthorn 9.6 (60).
Injuries in 1966
In the first four matches of 1966, Swift played at full-forward, kicking a total of 10 goals. His knee was badly injured in the last quarter of the round 4 match against Collingwood, and it was feared that he might not play again that season.However, his knee did eventually come good; and, whilst playing a couple of matches in the Second Eighteen, to get back his touch and his match fitness, he broke a bone in his hand. This meant that he was not fit to resume his place in the senior team until the last round match against Fitzroy. He was selected at full-forward, and he kicked 5 goals.
Full-back
Although playing with a suspect knee for his last few seasons at Richmond, Swift always gave his best; and, considering his knee problems, he had a surprising turn of speed. He ended his career at full-back, having played as a half-forward flanker and ruck-rover for his last few seasons, and only moving to full-back in the last half of his last season, in place of the injured Mick ErwinMick Erwin
Michael 'Mick' Erwin is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1962 and 1964 for the Collingwood Football Club and from 1965 to 1968 for the Richmond Football Club....
. Jack Dyer
Jack Dyer
John Raymond Dyer Sr. OAM , always known as Jack Dyer, was one of the colossal figures of Australian rules football during two distinct careers, firstly as a player and coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1931 and 1952, and later in the broadcast media for...
had suggested the move, on the basis of his own experience with a similar sort of knee injury, Dyer argued that, of all the positions on the field, full-back was the best for Swift, because he would have almost all of his play in front of him, and almost all of his running would be straight ahead, with a minimum of turns and sideways movement. In his first full match in 1967 at full-back, in round 16 (16 August 1967), against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
, at Glenferrie Oval
Glenferrie Oval
Glenferrie Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.It is the historic home of and is synonymous with the Hawthorn Football Club, who played there from 1903 and as a VFL/AFL club from 1925–1973, and retained the ground as an...
, despite fears that he was too short to play against Hawthorn's champion full-forward, Peter Hudson
Peter Hudson
Peter John Hudson AM is a former Australian Rules Football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history....
, who was 3½ inches taller, Swift held Hudson to three goals, and Richmond won the match, thrashing Hawthorn 23.30 (168) to 7.12 (54).
1967 Grand Final
In his final game, the 1967 Grand Final against GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
, he not only captained his team to a premiership, but he was one of the best on the ground, somewhat nullifying the impact of the temperamental Geelong hairdresser and champion full-forward, Doug Wade
Doug Wade
Douglas Graeme Wade is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club....
, who was nearly five inches (11 cm) taller and more than two stone heavier (14 kg), and was widely expected to out-class Swift. Wade, the season's top goal-kicker, who had scored 79 goals during the home-and-away section of the season (including 6 goals against Swift, and Richmond, in round 18), and 8 and 5 goals in the semi-final and preliminary finals against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
respectively, was clearly outplayed in the Grand Final, and was held to just 4 goals by Swift.
Although Geelong was the first to score, Richmond was a goal in front by quarter time: 4.3 (27) to 3.3 (21). By half time, Richmond had increased its lead to 16 points: 9.10 (64) to 7.6 (48). Geelong fought back during the third quarter and, at one stage, led by 14 points; however, Richmond counter-attacked and the scores were level. And, then, two rushed behinds right at the end of the quarter, saw Richmond two points ahead at three-quarter time: 12.15 (87) to 13.7 (85).
In one of the most exciting last quarters ever, Richmond was in front, then scores were level, then Geelong was in front, then scores were level, then Richmond was in front, then scores were level; and then it was time on.
Richmond’s John Ronaldson
John Ronaldson
John Ronaldson is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1965 and 1970 for the Richmond Football Club.Ronaldson is the father of Australian basketballer Tony Ronaldson.- References :...
kicked a goal (his third for the match) to put Richmond six points ahead, and then a goal from Kevin Bartlett, backing out of the pack, increased Richmond’s lead to twelve points. Geelong then ferociously surged back into the game when "Polly" Farmer
Graham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
(playing his last game for Geelong) handpassed the ball to Wayne Closter
Wayne Closter
Wayne Closter is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League .Closter played as both a wingman and centreman during his 191 game career, missing out on joining the 200 club due to National Service training commitments and a tour of duty fighting in...
, who kicked the ball goal-wards towards Wade (Geelong’s no.10) somewhere between centre-half forward and full-forward.
An almost exhausted Swift (Richmond’s no.15; and, as always, with the 5 askew), with great anticipation, leapt high in front of Wade and palmed the ball away to his right from in front of the pack. He raced back towards the goal square, just in time to intercept a kick from Colin Eales
Colin Eales
Colin Eales is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League .Eales spent much of his early years at Geelong in the seconds, after coming to the club from Hamilton. He was a member of Geelong's 1963 and 1964 reserves premierships...
and, to add insult to injury, ran across the face of goal, bounced the ball, with Wade in hot pursuit, and calmly passed the ball to John Perry
John Perry (footballer)
John Perry is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1964 and 1969 for the Richmond Football Club and from 1970 until 1974 for the North Melbourne Football Club.- References :...
.
Both Tony Polinelli
Tony Polinelli
Anthony 'Tony' Polinelli is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL during the early 1960s....
and Bill Ryan
Bill Ryan (footballer)
William Ronald Bill' Ryan is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL.Ryan, who was recruited from Swan Hill, could play as a ruckman, centre half back and key position forward. He participated in the 1967 Grand Final but his side lost and he would never play in...
kicked poorly, each scoring a behind, placing Geelong ten points behind; and then, with plenty of time for Geelong to get another goal, and breaking out of a pack, Goggin punt-kicked what seemed certain to be a goal (which would have reduced the lead to a dangerous four points).
The tenacious Swift – already greatly tired from having to captain his team, counteract the stronger, heavier, and taller Wade, and kick the ball back into play after the eight behinds that Geelong had scored up to that moment in the last quarter), single-mindedly concentrating on his task, took one of the finest marks of his career at the Punt Road end of the M.C.G.
With the strong September afternoon sun shining directly into his eyes, without any opposition (with the goal umpire crouching in a perfect position to determine its legality), he first caught the ball perhaps ten feet above the ground (3m), right on the goal line, to turn Geelong away, and retain Richmond’s lead of ten points. He played on, and his clearing drop-kick almost hit the centre.
Moments later, Polinelli surged up the ground kicked Geelong’s ninth behind for the quarter; and, as Polinelli's kick went through, the siren sounded, with Richmond finally winning by nine points 16.18 (114) to 15.15 (105).
Retirement from Richmond
Immediately after the Grand Final, he announced his retirement.In the following week, Swift was made the Lord Mayor of Richmond City for the day; and a photograph appeared in the Melbourne press, entitled "The day Richmond belonged to him", with Swift, in full mayoral regalia, looking down over the City of Richmond from the roof of the Richmond Town Hall
Richmond Town Hall
Richmond Town Hall is a civic building located on Bridge Road in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.After the amalgamatian of the City of Richmond with the City of Collingwood and the City of Fitzroy in 1994 to form the new City of Yarra, the Town Hall became the corporate headquarters for...
.
Richmond did all it could to induce Swift's to stay in the following week, but he was adamant that he would not change his mind, and they parted on friendly terms.
It is also significant to note that, although Swift tasted success as the captain of a premiership team, coached by Tom Hafey
Tom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
(who had played beside Swift in the Richmond first eighteen in the 1957 and 1958 seasons), in his last season with Richmond, he had also experienced Richmond being far from successful for most of his career; and, when examined year by year, Swift's career of 146 senior games clearly shows the extent to which he (and Richmond) had experienced hard times: 1958 season, he played 16 senior games (Richmond was 10th, out of 12 teams, at the end of the home-and-away season); 1959, 7 games (11th); 1960, 18 games (last); 1961, 15 games (10th) (in round 16, Swift played in the centre of a Richmond team that was beaten by St Kilda 12.19 (91) to 0.8 (8), the first time that a senior VFL team had failed to score a goal since round 11, 1921); 1962, 18 games (8th); 1963, 12 games (10th); 1964, 18 games (9th); 1965, 17 games (5th); 1966, 5 games (5th); 1967, 18 games (first), plus the second Semi-Final and the Grand-Final (premiers).
Coaching career
In his own time with Sandhurst, he had been coached by former Hawthorn rover, by then playing as a ruckman, Kevin CurranKevin Curran (footballer)
Kevin Curran was an Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1940s.Curran was recruited to Hawthorn from Traralgon and played his first game with them in 1940....
, and by former North Melbourne wingman, Leo Francis.http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leo_Francis.html At Richmond he had been coached by Alan McDonald
Alan McDonald (Australian rules footballer)
Alan McDonald is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1939 and 1941 and then again in 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. He was senior coach of Richmond from 1957 to 1960.- References :...
, Des Rowe
Des Rowe
Des Rowe was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League between 1946 and 1957 for the Richmond Football Club. He was senior coach of Richmond from 1961 to 1963.- References :...
, Len Smith
Len Smith (footballer)
Like his younger brother, the legendary Norm Smith, it is as a coach that Len is best remembered. During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s , he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960...
, Jack Titus
Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats...
, and Tom Hafey
Tom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
.
In 1968, Swift was appointed captain-coach of the Corowa Football Club
Corowa Football Club
The Corowa Football Club were an Australian rules football club which competed in the Ovens & Murray Football League.The club was based in Corowa, New South Wales.Famous footballers who played for the club include Fred Swift, Peter Chisnall and John Hoiles....
. Under Swift's guidance the team, which had taken the wooden spoon in 1967, went on to win the premiership in 1968 from fourth position. Corowa beat North Albury
North Albury Football Club
The North Albury Football Club, nicknamed The Hoppers, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League . They are incorporated as part of the North Albury Sports Club licensed club at Bunton Park in North Albury, where they play their home matches. The club has...
in the first semi-final, beat Myrtleford
Myrtleford Football Club
The Myrtleford Football Club, nicknamed the Saints, is an Australian Rules Football club playing in the Ovens & Murray Football League .The club is based in the town of Myrtleford, in north east Victoria on the Ovens River....
in the preliminary final 11.19 (85) to 8.13 (61), and went to beat the hot favourite team Wodonga
Wodonga Football Club
The Wodonga Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Ovens & Murray Football League.The club is based in Wodonga, Victoria.Wodonga made four consecutive grand finals from 1967 to 1970, winning two premierships....
(coached by ex-Collingwood rover Mick Bone
Mick Bone
Michael "Mick" Bone is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League during the 1960s.Bone, who kicked four goals in his second VFL game, was recruited from Thornbury YMCW...
) in the Grand Final 14.11 (95) to 12.16 (88), with Swift playing at full-back. Swift was also the captain-coach of the Corowa in 1969.
He was captain-coach of the Morwell Football Club (also known as "The Tigers") in 1970–1972, and coach of the Kennington/Strathdale Football Club in 1978–1979.
Record
- 1953–1954: Sandhurst Football Club, Third Eighteen: Captain and Best and Fairest.
- 1955–1957: Sandhurst Football Club, First Eighteen: 60 games, 20 goals, Best and Fairest (1957).
- 1958–1967: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: 146 games, 41 goals.
- 1958–1967: Brownlow Medal: 18 votes.
- 1958: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Best First Year Player.
- 1960: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Runner-Up, Best and Fairest.
- 1961: Victorian Representative Team: 2 games.
- 1962: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Captain, Night Premiership Team.
- 1963, 1966: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Vice-Captain.
- 1963, 1966: Richmond Football Club, Second Eighteen: 5 games, 3 goals.
- 1964: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Third, Best and Fairest.
- 1965: Richmond Football Club: Life Membership.
- 1967: Richmond Football Club, First Eighteen: Captain, Premiership Team.
- 1968–1969: Corowa Football Club: Captain-Coach, Premiership coach (1968), 30 games, 17 goals.
- 1970–1972: Morwell Football Club: Captain-Coach, 52 games, 29 goals.
- 1978–1979: Kennington/Strathdale Football Club: Coach.
After football
After his time with the Kennington/Strathdale Football Club he moved back to the Bendigo area and took up farming.Murder
Swift was murdered on Thursday, 28 April 1983 when two robbers, Robert William Larson (13 March 1965– ), of Ophir Street, Bendigo, and Malcolm David Lee, of Violet Street, Bendigo, armed with a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle, and disguised with balaclavas, invaded his farm (located at Lockwood, 10 km southwest of Bendigo) around mid-day whilst he was absent from home. They had chosen to rob Swift's property in order to supplement their unemployment benefits. According to the account of Tom HafeyTom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
, a former Richmond team-mate, a former Richmond coach, and a long-time friend of Swift, "The kids [who killed him] knew the layout of the house. Fred used to take them fishing".
They tied up his wife (Anita Charlotte Swift) and son (Paul Andrew Swift), and they began ransacking the house.
Swift arrived home soon after Larson and Lee's invasion; he got out of his car, went into the house to investigate, confronted the two, and was shot in the heart and in the thigh. He died almost immediately from his wounds. His body was not moved until nearly 6 pm that afternoon.
His murderers escaped in Swift's car. Larson was identified by Paul Swift (who had first met Larson two years earlier); and, despite Larson's disguise, Paul was able to identify him by his voice, his eyes, his build, and his clothing. Paul also identified Larson as the one who had been armed with the sawn-off .22 calibre rifle. The police immediately set up road blocks, and began to search the surrounding area. Soon Swift's car was found abandoned in bushland several kilometres from the scene of the murder. The police arrested both of his murderers late that afternoon.
Jack Dyer's eulogy on World of Sport
At the time of Swift's death, the entire football community was deeply shocked.On the morning of the following Sunday (1 May 1983), Ron Casey, host of the television programme World of Sport
World of Sport (Australian TV series)
World of Sport was an Australian sports program that was broadcast live by HSV 7 in Melbourne from 1959 to 1987 on Sundays between 11am and 2pm...
, without any prior warning, unexpectedly asked one of the show's stars, the sports journalist, Richmond legend, former Richmond coach, and Richmond selector Jack Dyer, who had been responsible for suggesting Swift's move to full-back in 1967 in place of Mick Erwin, to deliver what amounted to a eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
. Dyer refused outright, and a very fierce argument broke out between Casey and Dyer; with Casey's will, as host of the programme, prevailing.
Many of the viewers, already deeply upset at the murder of such a brave, honest, courageous, and well-loved man apparently killed in defence of his family, were further affected by the mournful manner in which Dyer, who deeply respected and admired Swift, spoke. It was only later revealed that the reason for Dyer's initial refusal to speak on air, and his actual refusal to look into the camera whilst speaking – having been forced against his will, by Casey, to deliver the eulogy – was solely due to his having left his false teeth at home (a fact that he refused to reveal to Casey or anyone else at the time), and had nothing to do with any reluctance to acknowledge his own personal sense of great loss at Swift's murder.
Murder trial
On Monday, 2 May 1983, both Larson and Lee were charged with Swift's murder. They were also charged with the unlawful imprisonment of Anita Charlotte Swift and Paul Andrew Swift, and having committed a robbery while armed with a rifle. Prior to the trial, the unlawful imprisonment charges were dropped, and both men were charged with murder and both were charged with armed robbery.According to the trial transcript (VR 559, p. 564) a clinical psychologist, Bernard Healey, had comprehensively tested Larson in May 1983 and found "that Larson [had] an I.Q.
Intelligence quotient
An intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests designed to assess intelligence. When modern IQ tests are constructed, the mean score within an age group is set to 100 and the standard deviation to 15...
of 80, which [placed] him at the lowest end of the dull range of intelligence and at about 9 per centum amongst people of his age".
In November 1983, a jury found Larson guilty of murder and armed robbery, and found Lee guilty of manslaughter and armed robbery; they were sentenced, by Mr. Justice Hampel, to life imprisonment and seven years' gaol respectively on Monday, 12 December 1983.
Four and a half years later, on 30 March 1988, Larson escaped from custody at the Melbourne City Watch-house in company with Paul Alexander Anderson (who had been imprisoned for car theft and other convictions). They were both recaptured in Adelaide, charged with firearms offences, and extradited back to Victoria.
Later, in 1992, Larson was again incarcerated for armed robbery, and was convicted twice in the first part of 2003, for separate assaults on police.
In November 2003, Larson (who was now living in Preston) appeared in court, facing 13 charges rising from an entirely unprovoked knife attack on three unarmed cleaners at Southbank at 2:00 am on 29 September 2003.
Remembered
The grace, strength, and safety of his marking, especially at full-back, has seldom been matched; and the consistent beauty, length, and accuracy of his drop kicking was wonderful to behold. He was a tough, tenacious, and fearless footballer, able to play through injury and, on at least one occasion, played with a broken bone in his arm (Hogan, 1996, p. 224). Although predominantly a right foot kick, he could kick well with either foot.He is vividly remembered for his happy, smiling face, his rolling gait, and his gentle friendliness to all and sundry. At Richmond he was a greatly respected and very popular clubman, who was "always available to help the recruits with some friendly advice and took a keen interest in the development of the younger players ensuring that they fitted in well" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224).
A grandstand at the home ground of the Corowa Football Club was named The Fred Swift Stand in his honour.
In 1986, he was posthumously inducted into the Bendigo Football League's Hall of Fame.http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/bfls-gala-plans/1850109.aspx
The "Fred Swift Medal" is awarded in his honour each season to the player who finishes fourth in Richmond's
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
count.