Fred Finch (footballer)
# Fred Finch (footballer)

Frederick John Finch (6 October 1895 – 18 April 1952) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

## Early life

The son of George Fagan and Ellen Berry, Frederick John Finch was born at Brunswick on 6 October 1895.

Fred Finch enlisted to serve in World War I in late 1914 and served until the end of the war.

## Cricket

Finch was an accomplished cricketer and played for Northcote Cricket Club in the Victorian District cricket competition from 1920 to 1922. He was a fast bowler and took a hat-trick against Fitzroy in the 1920–21 season.

## Football

After a stint with Burwood Football Club, Finch joined Hawthorn at the start of the 1922 season when Hawthorn was in the Victorian Football Association. He earned the nickname "Snowy" from his very fair hair and had a reputation for never missing a night's training. He played mostly in the centre, and won Hawthorn Football Club's best all-round player in their first season of VFL football. From 1927 to 1929 he played predominantly in the Hawthorn reserves team before retiring to football administration roles within the club.

## Later life

In 1924 Finch married Dulcie May Jones (née Stokes) and they lived in Glen Iris, Victoria with her two children from her first marriage.

Fred Finch died in 1952 at the age of 56.

## Honours and achievements

Individual

* Hawthorn best all rounder: 1925
* Hawthorn life member
