Former Collingwood and Sturt ruckman Fred Smith is having his problems with illness at the moment, but he still had time to revisit some memories when he called in to Collingwood’s Captains Run training session at the West Adelaide Football Club today.
Accompanied by family including two of his daughters, Donna and Jodie, the 82-year-old Smith was an interested onlooker as the Magpies went through their paces, and he was given a welcome surprise when Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly presented him with a framed jumper celebrating his achievements at Victoria Park.
Despite playing only one senior game for the Pies, those achievements were noteworthy.
As well as being a senior player, he played 56 games in total across all three grades and had the uncommon distinction of earning two best-and-fairest awards for the Collingwood Under-19s. He also played a significant part as first ruck in the Under-19s first-ever Premiership in 1960.
A senior debut followed early in the 1961 season, against Fitzroy. But injuries destroyed much of the rest of that year, and he crossed to Sturt in the SANFL. He enjoyed a tremendous debut season there, receiving selection in both the SA state team and the Adelaide Advertiser’s Team of the Year.
CC, he was run over by a car while crossing a road in Adelaide and sustained many major injuries, losing two seasons of football and eventually forcing his retirement from the game.
In the end, Fred’s was a highly promising career cut short by a string of ailments. He’s now suffering Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, but nevertheless took immense delight in the Pies’ Premiership success last September.
And the gift-giving wasn’t all one way on Saturday. Fred and his family have given his old Collingwood uniform and blazer, as well as his dual Under-19 best-and-fairest medals, back to the club for display at the Collingwood Museum.
