Fred Phillips

Frederick Rowden "Flops" Phillips (27 May 1905 – 21 April 1933) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Family The son of Frederick John Edmonds Phillips (1859–1931), and Sylvia Amy Phillips (1870–1950), née Rowden, Frederick Rowden Phillips was born in Richmond, Victoria on 27 May 1905. He was born with a "hare lip". Education He was educated at Laing's Prahran College, and, later, at Scotch College, Melbourne, where he excelled at both cricket and football. Football Fred Phillips was a highly skilled and stylish footballer; and was said to be a strong overhead mark. Standing at 183 cm, Fred could hold down key positions in defence or attack. He had an added advantage, over many footballers of that era, because he could kick proficiently with both feet. In those early days of football, many players were "branded" as "one-sided" which meant that they turned the same way on each occasion when winning possession of the ball. Such players were/are "predictable and therefore vulnerable" with close checking.