Harry Frei
Footscray
AFL career
6 games0 goals
- Debut
- R3 1973 v SME23 Apr 1973
- Most recent
- R12 1973 v FIT23 June 1973
Stats
Bio
One of the few VFL footballers born in West Germany, Harry Frei remains a unique figure in Australian sporting history as a genuine cross-code talent who found his greatest success long after his footy career ended. Born in Nuremberg before emigrating to Australia, he broke into the Footscray senior side in 1973 as a utility capable of playing on a flank or wing. At 184cm, he possessed the size to compete in the air and averaged over 14 disposals across his six senior appearances, but he was unable to cement a long-term spot in the Bulldogs' lineup during a middling era for the club.
Following his brief stint at the elite level, Frei embarked on a nomadic country football journey that saw him play for Lockhart in the Farrer Football League, as well as stints in the La Trobe Valley and with North Launceston in Tasmania. His sporting narrative took a remarkable turn after he moved to Brisbane; at the age of 31, he made a shock debut for the Queensland cricket team as a fast-medium bowler. Frei ultimately played more First Class cricket matches (37) than VFL games, famously dismissing English Test captains David Gower and Graeme Fowler during a tour match, cementing his status as one of the country's most versatile, if unconventional, sporting journeymen.
Profile
- Born
- 01 Mar 1951 (age 75y 235d)
- Birthplace
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Height
- 184 cm
- Weight
- 77 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionOne of the few VFL footballers born in West Germany, Harry Frei remains a unique figure in Australian sporting history as a genuine cross-code talent who found his greatest success long after his footy career ended. Born in Nuremberg before emigrating to Australia, he broke into the Footscray senior side in 1973 as a utility capable of playing on a flank or wing. At 184cm, he possessed the size to compete in the air and averaged over 14 disposals across his six senior appearances, but he was unable to cement a long-term spot in the Bulldogs' lineup during a middling era for the club.
Following his brief stint at the elite level, Frei embarked on a nomadic country football journey that saw him play for Lockhart in the Farrer Football League, as well as stints in the La Trobe Valley and with North Launceston in Tasmania. His sporting narrative took a remarkable turn after he moved to Brisbane; at the age of 31, he made a shock debut for the Queensland cricket team as a fast-medium bowler. Frei ultimately played more First Class cricket matches (37) than VFL games, famously dismissing English Test captains David Gower and Graeme Fowler during a tour match, cementing his status as one of the country's most versatile, if unconventional, sporting journeymen.