Michael Frederick (footballer)

Michael Frederick
Personal information
Full name	Minairo Frederick
Date of birth	(2000-05-17) 17 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)
Draft	No. 61, 2019 National draft, Fremantle
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)
Position(s)	Wing / Forward
Club information
Current club	Fremantle
Number	32
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2020–	Fremantle	78 (86)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Minairo "Michael" Frederick (born 17 May 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Fredrick was born in Adelaide, South Australia to South Sudanese migrant parents. ^[1] He was named Minairo at birth, but prefers to be known by his baptised name, Michael. ^[2] His twin brother Manguru (Martin) formerly played for Port Adelaide. ^[3] He completed school at Christian Brothers College, Adelaide in 2018. He was drafted with the 61st selection in the 2019 AFL draft from Woodville-West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), where he had won the Alan Stewart Medal as the best player in the 2019 SANFL Under 18 Grand Final. ^[4]

Professional career

Frederick made his AFL debut for Fremantle during round seven of the 2020 AFL season in the Western Derby at Optus Stadium kicking a goal on debut. ^[5] Frederick finished his debut year having played 10 games and kicked four goals. ^[6]

Frederick had a stand out performance during round 11 of the 2022 AFL season, he kicked two goals and finished with a game-high 11 score involvements, 17 disposals and four marks during Fremantle's 38 point win over Melbourne at the MCG. ^[7] Frederick again had a great performance the following week during Fremantle's top 4 clash against Brisbane, kicking 3 goals and amassing 18 disposals, 7 score involvements and 10 marks in the 14 point win. ^[8] Frederick was among Fremantle's best in round 17 during the 41 point win over St Kilda, kicking an equal game-high 3 goals. ^[9] Later that month Frederick was handed a one-match ban by Fremantle after consuming alcohol during a six-day break and as a result he missed Fremantle's round 13 game against Hawthorn. ^[10] Frederick finished 2022 having played 22 games and kicked 28 goals in a breakout season.

Frederick made a memorable impact during round 20 of the 2023 AFL season in Fremantle's 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park, kicking an "unbelievable goal" at a crucial stage in the game to help win the match. Despite being labeled "one of the goals of the season" by Fox Sports journalist Mark Howard, it failed to receive the Goal of the Year nomination, with Taylor Walker of the Adelaide Crows instead controversially winning the nomination. ^{[11] [12]}

Frederick made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions. He collected 15 disposals and kicked an impressive goal in the final quarter during the 23 point win. ^[13] He kicked two goals the next week against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. ^[14]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024 ^[15]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2020 [lower-alpha 1]	Fremantle	43	10	4	6	41	39	80	18	8	0.4	0.6	4.1	3.9	8.0	1.8	0.8
2021	Fremantle	43	7	5	11	52	16	68	35	7	0.7	1.6	7.4	2.3	9.7	5.0	1.0
2022	Fremantle	32	22	28	14	154	85	239	74	51	1.2	0.6	7.0	3.8	10.8	3.3	2.3
2023	Fremantle	32	19	26	12	151	76	227	77	32	1.4	0.6	7.9	4.0	11.9	4.1	1.7
2024	Fremantle	32	20	23	17	126	66	192	70	30	1.2	0.9	6.3	3.3	9.6	3.5	1.5
Career			78	86	60	524	282	806	274	128	1.1	0.8	6.7	3.6	10.3	3.5	1.6

Notes

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

1. "The drive behind Frederick". Fremantle Football Club. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
2. O'Donoghue, Craig (1 December 2019). "Taller Frederick caught eye". Sunday Times. p. 65.
3. "Mum's the word for draftee". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
4. "Eagles Win 2019 U18 Torrens University Cup". SANFL. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
5. "Frederick fired up for RAC Derby debut". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
6. "'It's a good story': Frederick reflects on debut year". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
7. "Frederick and Lobb top coaches' votes". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
8. "Not many teams have a guy like this". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
9. Kimber, Howard. "Dockers eyeing top-two spot after overrunning Saints". afl.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
10. "'No excuses': Dockers ban young forward star after drinking indiscretion". Fox Sports. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
11. McKern, James (29 July 2023). "AFL world in disbelief over star's 'special' contender for goal of the year". Fox Sports .
12. Welsh, Sophie. "Dockers shock has Cats' flag defence hanging by a thread". afl.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
13. Healey, Cat (21 March 2024). "All-time AFL first as Freo avoid 'absolute carnage' to officially create Grand Final curse". foxsports.com.
14. O'Connor, Alison (7 April 2024). "Dockers rally to reel in Roos with nine-goal blitz". afl.com.
15. "Michael Frederick". AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

External links

• Michael Frederick's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
• Michael Frederick's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Michael Frederick at AustralianFootball.com