Frederick Charles Burge (6 September 1923 – 6 November 2018) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Fred Burge
A red headed man smiles in portrait while wearing a black football jumper with a yellow sash
Burge with Richmond
Personal information
Full name Frederick Charles Burge
Date of birth (1923-09-06)6 September 1923
Date of death 6 November 2018(2018-11-06) (aged 95)
Place of death Melbourne, Australia
Original team(s) Castlemaine
Height 174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 75 kg (165 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1942–1950 Richmond 118 (105)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1950.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Burge, who arrived from Castlemaine, played in two grand finals early in his career, despite not being a regular member of the side.[1][2] He was on a forward pocket in the 1942 VFL Grand Final, his sixth league game and started from the same position in the 1944 Grand Final, which was just his 15th appearance for Richmond.[2] His side lost on both occasions.[2]

He had his breakthrough year in 1945, kicking 55 goals from his 20 appearances, which made him Richmond's leading goal-kicker for the season.[2] A rover, he played with the club until the 1951 pre-season, when he suffered a serious knee injury in practice.[3][4] He died on 6 November 2018 at the age of 95 at a hospital in Melbourne.[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  2. ^ a b c d AFL Tables: Fred Burge
  3. ^ "Fred Burge - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. ^ The Argus,"Defender hurt in trial", 4 April 1951, p. 11
  5. ^ Greenberg, Tony. "Vale Fred Burge". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  6. ^ Burge