MANN, Fred

Fred Mann was born in England and played his early football with Leopold.

He played in the back pocket in the 1901 premiership team in only his ninth senior game. He was also one of Essendon's best players in the team which lost the 1902 Grand Final to Collingwood.

Mann was selected in the League side to play Ballarat in 1902.

He left Essendon and went to Western Australia where he played with East Fremantle in 1904 and South Fremantle from 1905 to 1910.

Mann is believed to have been the mystery player who twice took the field as "Goodthur" when Essendon's champion, Albert Thurgood, missed three games through a controversial suspension in 1902.

His grandson, Ken, played 13 games for St Kilda (1965-1966) and his great-grandson, Peter, played 39 games for North Melbourne and 77 for Fremantle (1991-1999).

Fred Mann died on 22nd February, 1970, aged 91.