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Sport Nation
The 1300-goal legend who must be inducted into Hall of Fame
Andrew Slevison • June 14th, 2025 5:00 pm
With the Australian Football Hall of Fame fresh on the minds of the footy industry, David King wanted to put forward the name of one legend who one day must be inducted.
The late Fred Cook, who passed away in 2022, may not be a household name but he certainly achieved some remarkable things on the footy field.
He terrorised VFA defences through the 1970s and 80s, kicking well in excess of 1300 goals, which included more than 1200 with Port Melbourne.
North Melbourne great King, who was recruited by the Kangaroos from Port, says the Hall of Fame selection committee simply must look at inducting Cook despite the fact he spent the majority of his career playing in the VFA.
“The Hall of Fame selectors need to start recognising the VFA competition,” King said on SEN’s Fireball.
“It’s been around for 100 years. They’ve overlooked it consistently, they’ve picked players that have played VFL and VFA, but no one that’s been bulk VFA.
“I’m saying Fred Cook is the number one player that should be right now on the list for these guys to select.
“333 games of VFA footy, 1338 goals. The guy they put in from South Australia (Ken Farmer), this is him of the VFA.
“A Liston Medal winner, which is effectively the Brownlow. A five-time Frosty Miller Medal winner, which is effectively the Coleman. Kicked 140 goals one year.
“There’s different reports on what he kicked because they had carnival games and those sorts of things. 10 goals in a Grand Final.”
King firmly believes those who make the Hall of Fame decisions have to consider what Cook achieved over a long period of time.
He is adamant that feats in the VFA must be recognised.
“This guy is a legend of the VFA,” he continued.
“For Port Melbourne he played over 250 games and kicked 1200-odd goals. He has to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on that.
“I just don’t understand why we’re not recognising the VFA in any way. I understand the urgency to get some AFLW representation, but they’ve completely overlooked the competition (VFA) that in a lot of ways the AFL ruined.
“I just think it’s time that they acknowledge the VFA.”
Cook also played 33 games for Footscray in the VFL before his savagely successful VFA career with Yarraville, Port Melbourne and Moorabbin (in Division 2).
There remains a ‘Fred Cook End’ at the Borough’s home at North Port Oval.
