Fred Flanagan
Geelong · “Troubles”
AFL career
163 games182 goals
- Debut
- R1 1946 v MEL20 Apr 1946
- Most recent
- R4 1955 v FIT7 May 1955
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Swan Hill, Fred Flanagan's commencement at VFL level was delayed by service in World War II, seeing him finally debut for Geelong in 1946. He quickly developed into one of the league's premier key position players, noted for his elegance, safe overhead marking, and versatility to play at both centre half-forward and full-forward. Flanagan played the game with a distinct fairness and grace, relying on athleticism and pure football skill rather than brute force to outpoint his opponents.
Flanagan's greatest contribution came as the leader of the Cats during their dominant period in the early 1950s. Appointed captain in 1950, he skippered the club to back-to-back premierships in 1951 and 1952, acting as the trusted on-field general for coach Reg Hickey. Although injury forced him to watch the 1953 Grand Final loss from the sidelines, he remained the spiritual leader of the group until his retirement in 1955. A Best and Fairest winner in 1949 and an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, Flanagan is revered as the captain who ushered in Geelong's first golden era.
Profile
- Born
- 28 Mar 1924
- Died
- 14 Jan 2013 (aged 88y 292d)
- Birthplace
- Swan Hill, VIC
- Height
- 187 cm
- Weight
- 92 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership(2×) 1951, 1952
- Hall of Fame1998
- Geelong B&F1949
- Geelong captain(4×) 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
- Brownlow Medal
- 2nd
- 1950
- Top 10
- 1946, 1947, 1949
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Swan Hill, Fred Flanagan's commencement at VFL level was delayed by service in World War II, seeing him finally debut for Geelong in 1946. He quickly developed into one of the league's premier key position players, noted for his elegance, safe overhead marking, and versatility to play at both centre half-forward and full-forward. Flanagan played the game with a distinct fairness and grace, relying on athleticism and pure football skill rather than brute force to outpoint his opponents.
Flanagan's greatest contribution came as the leader of the Cats during their dominant period in the early 1950s. Appointed captain in 1950, he skippered the club to back-to-back premierships in 1951 and 1952, acting as the trusted on-field general for coach Reg Hickey. Although injury forced him to watch the 1953 Grand Final loss from the sidelines, he remained the spiritual leader of the group until his retirement in 1955. A Best and Fairest winner in 1949 and an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, Flanagan is revered as the captain who ushered in Geelong's first golden era.