GREEN, Fred

Fred Green was a fine follower and defender who joined Essendon from Brunswick United.

He was in the ruck and back pocket in the losing 1941 Grand Final side and won Essendon Most Unselfish Player award in that year.

Green missed 1942 and then all of 1944 and 1945 as a result of his war service, initially in the Army and then later as a radio mechanic in the Navy. He captained the Naval team in Canberra and won the award for Best and Fairest in the ACT League in 1945. He returned to Essendon in 1946.

He then joined St Kilda from 1947 to 1951 and played 67 games with that club. He was captain in 1949 and 1950 and was captain-coach in 1951.

Green became captain-coach of Fairfield in 1952, winning the premiership that year. He played the same role at Bass in 1953.

He later moved to Canberra where he was Secretary of the Department of Air and then a Commissioner with Telecom. He was awarded an CBE in 1977 for his public service.

Fred Green died in 1983.