‘Sad News’ Collingwood Football Club have announced the passing of two former players.

Vale Keith Bromage
1937-2024
Games (28) Goals (30)

Vale Fred Smith
1941-2024
Games (1) Goals (0)

The Collingwood Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of two former players, Keith Bromage and Fred Smith.

Keith was a local Collingwood product who became the youngest player ever to play for the club when he made his senior debut against Richmond in 1953, aged just 15 years and 287 days. At the time he was billed as the youngest player ever to have played League football (though subsequent research has proven he was the actually the second youngest).

A gun full-forward, he kicked a goal with his first kick at senior level, and was an emergency for the 1953 Premiership win later that year. He won the Club’s goalkicking in 1954, but a succession of knee injuries cruelled his progress and he ended up crossing to Fitzroy in 1958. He would play 41 games and kick 48 goals with the Lions.

Fred Smith played just one senior game for the Pies, in 1961, but before then he had enjoyed the rare distinction of having twice won our Under-19s best-and-fairest award. He was also part of our historic first Under-19s Premiership in 1960.

Fred was tall, agile and a wonderful mark, and he developed into one of the most promising young ruckmen around. He was just 19 when he made his solitary senior appearance, but a succession of injuries stopped him from getting further opportunities.

Things got ever worse when he moved to Sturt in the SANFL. After one stellar season there his career was all but ended by a serious knee injury, followed by even worse injuries when he was struck by a car just as he was planning a comeback.

The Club had reconnected with Fred during Gather Round earlier this year, when he paid a visit to training and caught up with some players and CEO Craig Kelly. We presented him with a framed jumper, and he and his family took that opportunity to donate his old jumper, boots, trophies and kitbag back to the Club.

Fred died in Adelaide last week after a long battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, at age 82. Keith died in WA, aged 86, after dealing with brain tumors. Both were surrounded by their families.

The Board, management, staff, coaches and players of the Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge Keith and Fred’s contributions to our club. Our thoughts are with their families and friends from Collingwood and beyond.