Fred Froude

Fred Froude was a unique talent whose background as a star basketballer initially threatened to derail his VFL career before it truly began. A local lad who lived within punting distance of Victoria Park, Froude arrived with exceptional evasive skills but a tendency to avoid contact—a trait that led some observers to wrongly label him "timid." While he showed early promise as a crafty forward, booting 30 goals in 1931, it was his permanent shift to the backline in 1932 that defined his career. The coaching staff transformed him into a premier half-back flanker, where his natural anticipation and ability to sidestep opponents allowed him to launch counter-attacks with his raking left foot.

Once settled in defence, Froude became a cornerstone of the Magpies' dominance throughout the 1930s. He was an attacking defender before the style was fashionable, using his agility to weave through traffic and rebound from the back half. Reliable and composed, he played in five Grand Finals and was a crucial member of the 1930, 1935, and 1936 premiership sides. He was so highly regarded that he filled in as captain on occasion and won the club's most popular player award in 1936. A broken jaw curtailed his final season in 1939, but he remained in the game as a coach, eventually returning to the VFL to lead St Kilda in the late 1940s.