Jimmy Freake

Who was Jimmy Freake?

James Henry "Jimmy" Freake was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League. A full forward, Freake lacked the height and weight that most had for that position but had considerable pace and ball handling abilities.

Freake was a member of two Fitzroy premiership sides, the first in 1913 and the other in 1922 when he kicked four goals in the Grand Final. He won the club's best and fairest award in 1918.

His career tally of 442 goals is the fourth most achieved by a Fitzroy player and was a club record when he retired in 1924. He also kicked the most goals ever for Fitzroy in finals football with 45. Other goalkicking feats include being the first Fitzroy player to kick 10 goals in a VFL match, topping their goalkicking seven times including a best of 66 goals in 1915 and twice being the leading goalkicker in a VFL season, in 1913 and 1915.

Freake died in Preston in 1937 and was survived by his wife Gertrude.