‘Giant figure of Australian rules football’: 1300-goal legend Fred Cook dead, aged 74

Fred Cook, a legend of state league and suburban football, has passed away peacefully at the age of 74.

Port Melbourne legend Fred Cook has died.

Fred Cook, a legend of state league and suburban football, has died.

VFL club Port Melbourne – the club Cook kicked 1210 goals for from 253 games amid six premierships – confirmed on Tuesday that Cook had passed away peacefully at the age of 74.

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The club said Cook would “forever be known as one of the greatest to ever play for the Borough”.

Veteran Leader journalist Paul Amy, who was also the author of Fabulous Fred: The Strife and Times of Fred Cook, wrote on Twitter that Cook “was only a legend”.

Football reporters, clubs and fans also paid tribute to Cook.

News has arrived that Fred Cook has died. Unwell in recent times, he was larger than life as Port Melbourne surged to VFA premierships in the 1970s and ‘80s. There was no VFA player quite like him.

— Philip Cleary (@PhilCleary_Ind) February 1, 2022

Rest peacefully, Fred Cook - truly a giant figure of Australian Rules football. Those who don’t know of him and his story - particularly his Port Melbourne VFA glory years - should really do themselves a favour and look it up. Astonishing.
Vale, Fred.

— Russell Bennett (@rgbennett) February 1, 2022

To describe Fred Cook as a "colourful footy legend" would be an understatement.
What a character... and he was a BIG star in the VFA heydays.
Vale. https://t.co/UxmEzpUv0N

— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) February 1, 2022

Until the League muscled its way into the VFA’s turf, Fred Cook ruled Sunday footy in Melbourne and was nearly as big a name for us footy mad kids as Lethal, Barassi and Peter McKenna thanks to the live telecasts on Channel O. A genuine footy legend. #RIP

— Ashley Browne (@hashbrowne) February 1, 2022

After growing up in Melbourne’s inner western suburbs, Cook joined Footscray in the VFL playing 33 games in the late 1960s before crossing over to Yarraville in the Victorian Football Association. He won the Liston Trophy in 1970 for Yarraville, despite the team winning just one game for the season.

Cook then joined Port Melbourne ahead of the 1971 VFA season and would stay there for the next 14 seasons. He’d develop into one of the league’s most intimidating full-forwards and gain pop star-like fame in Melbourne as he became known as ‘Fabulous Fred’.

Former VFL/VFA footballer Fred Cook.

Cook kicked 100-plus goals in seven seasons at the Borough, including tallies of 125 in both 1976 and 1977.

He finished his VFA career at Moorabbin, kicking 72 goals from 18 games. He’d finish with over 1300 goals to his name.

Cook’s public profile remained prominent after his playing career due to his media presence, which included regular appearances on World of Sport.

But Cook’s life fell apart due to drugs. He also spent time behind bars — he did three spells in prison — after developing an addiction that took years to shake.

Cook died on Tuesday morning at an aged care home in Bendigo.

Originally published as ‘Giant figure of Australian rules football’: 1300-goal legend Fred Cook dead, aged 74