Fred Fitzgibbon

Infobox afl player NEW
playername = Fred Fitzgibbon
fullname = Fred Fitzgibbon
image capt =


birthdate = 22 October 1917
birthplace =
originalteam = Brunswick
heightweight = 169 cm / 64 kg
position =
dead = dead
deathdate = 24 January 1999
deathplace =
debutinformation = Round 3, 1942, Carlton vs
Essendon at Windy Hill
years = 1942-48
clubs = Carlton
games(goals) = 96 (9)
statsend = 1948
careerhighlights =

Fred Fitzgibbon (22 October 1917 - 24 January 1999) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the VFL during the 1940s.

Fitzgibbon spent his early career at Brunswick but when the VFA suspended the competition in 1942 due to the war, he decided to switch leagues and joined Carlton. Used mainly as a wingman, Fitzgibbon became one of Carlton's most physically aggressive players which at times saw him front the tribunal. The most notable suspensions came in the 1945 finals series and began with a four match ban for king-hitting Collingwood forward Len Hustler in the Preliminary Final which meant he had to watch that year's premiership from the stands. The Grand Final was marred by many instances of violence and when his Carlton teammate Jim Mooring was flattened, Fitzgibbon jumped the fence, in his street clothes, and started fighting South's Ted Whitfield. The police eventually escorted him from the ground and he received a further four week suspension from the league.

He played every game in the 1947 season, including Carlton's one point win over Essendon in the 1947 VFL Grand Final to ensure the 1945 suspension wouldn't cost him a premiership.

References

*AflRleague|ref=F/Fred_Fitzgibbon.html
* [http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Fred+Fitzgibbon Blueseum: Fred Fitzgibbon]