Jimmy Freake

Raised in the shadow of Victoria Park, Jimmy Freake grew up dreaming of pulling on the Collingwood guernsey, but found his path blocked by the legendary Dick Lee and the Magpies' formidable forward depth. Instead, he crossed to Fitzroy, where he immediately established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. Despite standing only 178cm and weighing a slight 63kg—dimensions that made him look more like a rover than a spearhead—Freake defied the physical conventions of the era to become a prolific goal kicker. His debut season in 1912 yielded 53 goals, setting the tone for a career defined by consistency and durability in the forward line.

Freake’s success was built on electric pace and elite reading of the play rather than brute strength. He was famous for his unique leading style, often crouching low with his chest almost scraping the turf before exploding away from his opponent with blinding acceleration. This speed, combined with vice-like hands and an intuitive partnership with centreman Percy Parratt, allowed him to dominate despite his light frame. A dual premiership player in 1913 and 1922, Freake topped Fitzroy’s goalkicking seven times and won the club's Best and Fairest in 1918, eventually retiring as a revered figure who had proven that speed and skill could conquer size.