Recruited from VFA club Northcote, Fred was a solid 173 cm, 73 kg first-year rover in 1947 when Carlton went into the Grand Final as firm favourites to beat Essendon*. In a close and tough encounter however, Stafford was well held by the Bomber defence and hardly sighted for most of the game.

Selectors urged coach Percy Bentley to shift him or replace him, but Bentley refused - each time saying that Stafford would come good. Then, with only 44 seconds left on the clock, and Carlton trailing by 5 points, the ball cleared the pack as the Blues drove forward one last desperate time. Fred flashed in from the half-forward flank, picked up the ball 25 metres out, and snapped the winning goal with his left foot. It was the stuff of legends. Perce Bentley's faith was vindicated, and Stafford was an instant Carlton hero.

Sad news.

I remember him as a tacker being a drinking buddy of my father.

Nice bloke. Like many of his generation always seemed to be in a gaberdine coat accompanied by an obligatory kit-bag. A perfect way to carry a few bottles of Abotts Lager!

I.I.R.C i can recall someone at some stage suggesting that he was Barbs father.

Dom, pretty sure Barb's dad was Freddie Fitzgibbon. Who wasn't playing in the '45 GF, BUT JUMPED THE FENCE TO JOIN IN THE PUNCH ON !!
Re the kit bag, my father used to take his bottles wrapped in newspaper, deposited neatly in his gladstone bag. The good old days.