Fred Latham was a star of Canterbury’s first ever premiership in 1920. At five foot 6, it would be expected that he was a mosquito fleeter.
He was the club’s star full forward. In 1921 he kicked 102 goals for the year. The first player in local footy to do that anywhere. The paper noted this included 13 goals in the first game of the year against Doncaster & 14 against Box Hill. “It said that only once was he kept goalless and normally reserved his best games against the best teams.”
Latham was a local boy going to Canterbury State school and was a wool sorter. He enlisted in WW1 at 18 and served in the 14th Artillery Brigade as a Gunner in France where he kept the nickname for life as “Possy.”
He sustained a knee injury early in 1922 and did not play again that season. Despite this, Hawthorn picked him up and he was their leading goal kicker of 1923, with 53 goals. He signed with Oakleigh on a big contract where he kicked many century plus hauls. The paper said he ‘Was as popular off the field as on it, and known for his smiling disposition.”
Our ANZAC hero Fred Latham is shortlisted for our Legends team. Look at the fancy kicking style on the little champion!!!!!!!
