Frederick Norman Swift (6 July 1938 – 28 April 1983) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He also played first grade cricket with the Eaglehawk Cricket Club"Borough to mark 150th anniversary", The Bendigo Advertiser, 24 June 2006. in the Bendigo and District Cricket Association.
Swift has a special place in the history of the Richmond Football Club as the captain of the drought-breaking 1967 premiership team. He was murdered during a home invasion at his farm at Lockwood, near Bendigo, Victoria, at the age of 44.
Career
Sandhurst Swift was recruited as a utility player from the Sandhurst Football Club in the Bendigo Football League. He played with their senior team, coached by Kevin Curran (and playing alongside Brendan Edwards), from the time he was seventeen and, at 19, he was the youngest player ever to win the club's best and fairest award."Cockerels enter '78 season full of hope" .
Richmond Swift played in two practice matches with Richmond in 1957In the second of his two practice matches he outplayed Des Rowe: Wright Ignores Bad Hand Injury, The Age, (Monday, 15 April 1957), p.20. but was not given a full, extended clearance; and he consequently returned to Sandhurst for the 1957 season.V.F.L. Training Lists: Richmond: To be considered when available, The Age, 15 April 1957), p. 20. and "Naismith Likely as Full-Forward", The Age, 29 May 1957, p. 18.
In early March 1958, Richmond were able to come to an agreement with Sandhurst and Swift was allowed to travel to Melbourne to train with Richmond.
He starred in Richmond's 1958 pre-season practice gamesRecruit Brilliant in Tigers' Trial, (Monday, 7 April 1958), p. 18 – "he marked well, played on with determination once the ball hit the ground, and frequently sent his side into attack with long, driving kicks into the goal mouth"Crowe Shines in Tigers' Practice, The Age, (Monday, 24 March 1958), p.30. – and, by mid-April 1958, nineteen years old Swift, regarded by Richmond as the "recruit of the year",Two Recruits Will Play for Tigers at South, The Age, (Friday, 11 April 1958), p.26. was finally cleared to the Tigers.League Players Granted Permits, The Age, (Saturday, 12 April 1958), p. 14
Because it seemed certain that he would "definitely play for the Tigers in the opening game against South Melbourne", it was thought during the week prior to the first match of the 1958 season that he had so well demonstrated his ability to play at centre-half forward, half-back flank, and centre ("where he gave what was probably his most impressive performance") that "he could fill any one of these positions in the game against South"; and, moreover, that "his natural ability is such that he would probably be successful no matter where he is played".Richmond Gets Sandhurst Star, The Age, (Thursday, 3 April 1958), p. 18 and Richmond Star Ends Doubts With Good Display, The Age, (Monday, 6 April 1958), p. 18.
Although Swift had played at full-back at Sandhurst, he had not played full-back in any of Richmond's 1957 or 1958 practice matches; he had "played brilliantly at centre" during the practice matches in 1958 and had satisfied Richmond that he could "play in any position" – to such an extent that the Wednesday Age speculated that he would be picked at full-back, in place of the injured Allan Cations on the following Saturday.Tigers May Play Swift at Full-Back, The Age, (Wednesday, 9 April 1958), p. 16 He was, however, picked on the half-forward flank for his first senior game, in round 1, against South Melbourne.V.F.L. Teams Chosen, The Age, (Friday, 11 April 1958, p.26.
Debut with Richmond At nineteen, he played his first senior game for Richmond against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1958 season on the half-forward flank. Richmond unexpectedly beat South Melbourne, and Swift kicked one goal. One of the football writers of The Age commenting on his debut, said that, "Fred Swift was strange early but in the last quarter showed good football sense and ability on his half-forward flank. He should develop into a useful player.League Recruits Show Promise, The Age, (Monday, 14 April 1958), p. 18
He was a highly talented footballer, with great anticipation, and highly polished ball skills, and he was equally at home in the forward lineAttack role suits Swift, The Age, (6 April 1966), p. 18. – he kicked 5 goals against Fitzroy in round 18, 1966; and, when moved from center half-back to full-forward, in the last quarter against St Kilda in round 6, 1959, he kicked 3 goals, in a losing sideCarter, R., "Saints New Side After Half Time", The Age, (Monday, 1 June 1959), p.20. – wing, centre, or in defence".Tiger Leaps, The Age, (Friday, 30 June 1961), p.20.
Reserves In his entire career with Richmond, he only played five games with the second eighteen. He did not play his first match with the seconds until the round 16 match against Carlton at Princes Park on Saturday, 24 August 1963,Richmond Makes Eight Changes, The Age, (Friday, 23 August 1963), p.24. by which time he had already played 83 senior games. Playing at centre half-forward,V.F.L. Reserves, The Age, (Friday, 23 August 1963, p.22. he was best on the ground, kicking 3 goals.VFL Statistics, The Age, (Monday, 26 August 1963, p. 18.
Interstate football Given Richmond's place on the VFL ladder, only one Richmond player could be selected in the Victorian Interstate team for the fifteenth Australian National Football Carnival, that would be held in Brisbane in 1961. Ruckman Neville Crowe, was selected.Carter, R., "Barassi to Lead Carnival Side", The Age, (Monday, 26 June 1961), p.20. In the interim, Crowe had injured his knee, and was forced to withdraw from the team.Richmond Ruckman to Miss Inter-State Trip, The Age, (Thursday, 6 July 1961), p. 19. Richmond paid for Crowe's expenses to travel to the carnival with the team,New Full-back, The Age, (Wednesday, 12 July 1961), p. 17. and the allocated Richmond place in the Victorian team was taken by Swift.Carnival Men's Fitness Tests, The Age, (Thursday, 6 July 1961), p.20. The Victorian team was coached by Len Smith.
Swift played in both of Victoria's matches. He played on the half-back flank in the first match against Tasmania on 19 July 1961,Carter, R., "Victorians Look Set for Easy Victory in Title Series Match", The Age, (Wednesday, 19 July 1961), p16. until he injured his ankle and was replaced; Victoria won by 61 points: 23.30 (150) to 12.17 (89).Carter, R., "Victoria Won Easily, But Not Impressive", The Age, (20 July 1961), p.20.
His ankle recovered and he played, again on the half-back flank, in the Victorian team that finished with 17 men, that was comprehensively beaten in an extremely rough and tough match by West Australian team, on Sunday, 24 July, by 9 points: 15.14 (104) to 14.11 (95).Carter, R., "W.A. Triumphs Over Victoria", The Age, (Monday, 24 July 1961), p.20. The West Australian team won the carnival competition; coached by Jack Sheedy, the team included John Todd, Graham "Polly" Farmer, Ray Gabelich, Jack "Stork" Clarke, and Ray Sorrell.
1962 night premiership Richmond played its first match against Fitzroy on Tuesday 4 September 1962 with Swift at full-back.Hobbs, G., "Tigers in Form to Beat Fitzroy in Night Game", The Age, (Tuesday, 4 September 1962), p.22. Richmond beat Fitzroy 12.9 (81) to 9.10 (64).Hobbs, G., "Tigers Too Good After Slow Start", The Age, (Wednesday, 5 September 1962), p.20.
In the semi-final match, on Friday, 14 September 1962, Richmond played against the strong favourites North Melbourne.Night Game, The Age, (Friday, 14 September 1962), p.24. Swift played at full-back, and was best on the ground. Richmond beat North Melbourne 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62).Hobbs, G., "Richmond Wins Night Match Comfortably", The Age, (Saturday, 15 September 1962), p. 14.
The final match of the series was originally scheduled to be played at the Lake Oval on Monday, 24 September 1962, but was moved to Wednesday, 26 September 1962 because of bad weather.Night Match Postponed, The Age, (Tuesday, 25 September 1962, p.22.,
In the Grand Final, Swift was again best on the ground, playing at full-back against Hawthorn's John Peck, and as the team's captain in Richmond's only ever Night Premiership victory: "Swift played a superb game at full-back repelling Hawthorn’s forward thrusts and marking everything that came his way" (Hogan, 1996, p. 300) and, according to the press, "his superb defensive play, in that game, was the difference between victory and defeat" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224). Richmond 8.16 (64) defeated Hawthorn 9.6 (60).Hobbs, G., "Night Football Richmond Wins", The Age, (Thursday, 27 September 1962), p. 18.
Injuries in 1966 In the first four matches of 1966, Swift played at full-forward,New role for Tigers' Swift, The Age, (Monday, 4 April 1966), p.22. kicking a total of 10 goals. His knee was badly injured in the last quarter of the round 4 match against Collingwood,Beames, P., "Saints lose Howell, but Murray Fit", (Monday, 16 May 1966), p.30. and it was feared that he might not play again that season.
However, his knee did eventually come good; and, whilst playing a couple of matches in the Second Eighteen, to get back his touch and his match fitness, he broke a bone in his hand. This meant that he was not fit to resume his place in the senior team until the last round match against Fitzroy.Hobbs, G., "Tigers May Select Swift", The Age, (Thursday, 25 August 1966), p.22. He was selected at full-forward,How VFL Teams Will Line Up, The Age, (Friday, 26 August 1966), p.24. and he kicked 5 goals.Carr, M., "Big Second Half Gives Tigers Win", (Monday, August 1966), p. 18.
Full-back Although playing with a suspect knee for his last few seasons at Richmond, Swift always gave his best; and, considering his knee problems, he had a surprising turn of speed. He ended his career at full-back, having played as a half-forward flanker and ruck-rover for his last few seasons, and only moving to full-back in the last half of his last season, in place of the injured Mick Erwin. Jack Dyer had suggested the move, on the basis of his own experience with a similar sort of knee injury, Dyer argued that, of all the positions on the field, full-back was the best for Swift, because he would have almost all of his play in front of him, and almost all of his running would be straight ahead, with a minimum of turns and sideways movement. In his first full match in 1967 at full-back, in Round 16 against at Glenferrie Oval, despite fears that he was too short to play against Hawthorn's champion full-forward, Peter Hudson, who was 3½ inches taller, Swift held Hudson to three goals, and Richmond won the match, thrashing Hawthorn 23.30 (168) to 7.12 (54).
1967 VFL Grand Final
In his final game, the 1967 Grand Final against Geelong,Along with Kevin Bartlett, and John Northey, Swift had played in every one of the twenty matches that the Richmond senior team played in the 1967 season. he not only captained his team to a premiership, but he was one of the best on the ground, somewhat nullifying the impact of the temperamental Geelong hairdresser and champion full-forward, Doug Wade, who was nearly five inches (11 cm) taller and more than two stone heavier (14 kg), and was widely expected to out-class Swift.Beames, P., "Wade's Big Chance", The Age, (Saturday, 23 September 1963), p.20. Wade, the season's top goal-kicker, who had scored 79 goals during the home-and-away section of the season (including 6 goals against Swift, and Richmond, in round 18), and 8 and 5 goals in the semi-final and preliminary finals against Collingwood and Carlton respectively, was clearly outplayed in the Grand Final, and was held to just 4 goals by Swift.