Fred Swift

In November 2003, Larson (who was now living in Preston) appeared in court, facing 13 charges rising from an entirely unprovoked knife attack on three unarmed cleaners at Southbank at 2:00 am on 29 September 2003.

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).

The grace, strength, and safety of his marking, especially at full-back, has seldom been matched; and the consistent beauty, length, and accuracy of his drop kicking was wonderful to behold. He was a tough, tenacious, and fearless footballer, able to play through injury and, on at least one occasion, played with a broken bone in his arm (Hogan, 1996, p. 224). Although predominantly a right foot kick, he could kick well with either foot.

He is vividly remembered for his happy, smiling face, his rolling gait, and his gentle friendliness to all and sundry. At Richmond he was a greatly respected and very popular clubman, who was "always available to help the recruits with some friendly advice and took a keen interest in the development of the younger players ensuring that they fitted in well" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224).

Later, in 1992, Larson was again incarcerated for armed robbery, and was convicted twice in the first part of 2003, for separate assaults on police.

Four and a half years later, on 30 March 1988, Larson escaped from custody at the Melbourne City Watch-house in company with Paul Alexander Anderson (who had been imprisoned for car theft and other convictions). They were both recaptured in Adelaide, charged with firearms offences, and extradited back to Victoria.

In 1986, he was posthumously inducted into the Bendigo Football League's Hall of Fame.[2]

At around midday on Thursday, 28 April 1983, two young men, Robert William Larson (born 13 March 1965) of Ophir Street, Bendigo, and Malcolm David Lee, of Violet Street, Bendigo, armed with a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle and disguised with balaclavas, invaded Swift's family property at Lockwood (10 km southwest of Bendigo) while he was absent. They had chosen to rob Swift's property in order to supplement their unemployment benefits. According to the account of Tom Hafey, a former Richmond team-mate, coach, and long-time friend of Swift, "The kids [who killed him] knew the layout of the house. Fred used to take them fishing".

On the morning of the following Sunday (1 May 1983), Ron Casey, host of the television programme World of Sport, without any prior warning, unexpectedly asked one of the show's stars, the sports journalist, Richmond legend, former Richmond coach, and Richmond selector Jack Dyer, who had been responsible for suggesting Swift's move to full-back in 1967 in place of Mick Erwin, to deliver what amounted to a eulogy. Dyer refused outright, and a very fierce argument broke out between Casey and Dyer; with Casey's will, as host of the programme, prevailing.

On Monday, 2 May 1983, both Larson and Lee were charged with Swift's murder. They were also charged with the unlawful imprisonment of Anita Charlotte Swift and Paul Andrew Swift, and having committed a robbery while armed with a rifle. Prior to the trial, the unlawful imprisonment charges were dropped, and both men were charged with murder and both were charged with armed robbery.

According to the trial transcript (VR 559, p. 564) a clinical psychologist, Bernard Healey, had comprehensively tested Larson in May 1983 and found "that Larson [had] an I.Q. of 80, which [placed] him at the lowest end of the dull range of intelligence and at about 9 per centum amongst people of his age".

In November 1983, a jury found Larson guilty of murder and armed robbery, and found Lee guilty of manslaughter and armed robbery; they were sentenced, by Mr. Justice Hampel, to life imprisonment and seven years' gaol respectively on Monday, 12 December 1983.

He was captain-coach of the Morwell Football Club (also known as "The Tigers") in 1970–1972, and coach of the Kennington/Strathdale Football Club in 1978–1979.

In 1968, Swift was appointed captain-coach of the Corowa Football Club. Under Swift's guidance the team, which had taken the wooden spoon in 1967, went on to win the premiership in 1968 from fourth position. Corowa beat North Albury in the first semi-final, beat Myrtleford in the preliminary final 11.19 (85) to 8.13 (61), and went to beat the hot favourite team Wodonga (coached by ex-Collingwood rover Mick Bone) in the Grand Final 14.11 (95) to 12.16 (88), with Swift playing at full-back. Swift was also the captain-coach of the Corowa in 1969.

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.

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 Hawthorn 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).

In his final game, the 1967 Grand Final against Geelong, 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. 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.

He was a highly talented footballer, with great anticipation, and highly polished ball skills, and he was equally at home in the forward line – 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 side – wing, centre, or in defence".

In the first four matches of 1966, Swift played at full-forward, kicking a total of 10 goals. His knee was badly injured in the last quarter of the round 4 match against Collingwood, and it was feared that he might not play again that season.

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, by which time he had already played 83 senior games. Playing at center half-forward, he was best on the ground, kicking 3 goals.

Richmond played its first match against Fitzroy on Tuesday 4 September 1962 with Swift at full-back. Richmond beat Fitzroy 12.9 (81) to 9.10 (64).

In the semi-final match, on Friday, 14 September 1962, Richmond played against the strong favourites North Melbourne. Swift played at full-back, and was best on the ground. Richmond beat North Melbourne 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62).

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.

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. In the interim, Crowe had injured his knee, and was forced to withdraw from the team. Richmond paid for Crowe's expenses to travel to the carnival with the team, and the allocated Richmond place in the Victorian team was taken by Swift. 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, until he injured his ankle and was replaced; Victoria won by 61 points: 23.30 (150) to 12.17 (89).

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 games – "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" – and, by mid-April 1958, nineteen years old Swift, regarded by Richmond as the "recruit of the year", was finally cleared to the Tigers.

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".

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.

Swift played in two practice matches with Richmond in 1957 but was not given a full, extended clearance; and he consequently returned to Sandhurst for the 1957 season.

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. He was, however, picked on the half-forward flank for his first senior game, in round 1, against South Melbourne.

It is also significant to note that, although Swift tasted success as the captain of a premiership team, coached by Tom Hafey (who had played beside Swift in the Richmond first eighteen in the 1957 and 1958 seasons), in his last season with Richmond, he had also experienced Richmond being far from successful for most of his career; and, when examined year by year, Swift's career of 146 senior games clearly shows the extent to which he (and Richmond) had experienced hard times: 1958 season, he played 16 senior games (Richmond was 10th, out of 12 teams, at the end of the home-and-away season); 1959, 7 games (11th); 1960, 18 games (last); 1961, 15 games (10th) (in round 16, Swift played in the centre of a Richmond team that was beaten by St Kilda 12.19 (91) to 0.8 (8), the first time that a senior VFL team had failed to score a goal since round 11, 1921); 1962, 18 games (8th); 1963, 12 games (10th); 1964, 18 games (9th); 1965, 17 games (5th); 1966, 5 games (5th); 1967, 18 games (first), plus the second semi-final and the Grand-Final (premiers).

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 in the Bendigo and District Cricket Association.