Palman Qui Meruit Ferat
Vale Vic Chanter (1921-2010)
9.30 pm Tuesday 9th November 2010
The Fitzroy Football Club (incorporating the Fitzroy Reds) mourn the passing of Fitzroy Team of the Century nominee and former Fitzroy full back Vic Chanter, who passed away on Friday November 5th.
Vic Chanter played 108 senior games for Fitzroy between 1946 and 1952, wearing Number 24 for much of his senior career. His father Fred Chanter played one game for Fitzroy in 1920. Vic played his junior football with Alphington Amateurs, then moving to Melbourne where he played in their 1939 reserves premiership.
After the end of World War II, the VFL introduced zoning and rather than be tied to Collingwood, Vic signed with Fitzroy and made his debut in Round 6 of the 1946 against Footscray, playing the 1946, 1947 and 1948 seasons at centre half back. He moved to full back during the 1948 season to replace an injured Reg Nicholls, where he remained for the rest of his career at Fitzroy.
Chanter was the only man in history to keep Essendon's champion full forward John Coleman goalless in Round 12 of 1952 at a very muddy Brunswick Street Oval.
Chanter was one of only five full backs to win Fitzroy's Best and Fairest, which he did in 1951, joining Horrie Jenkin, Fred Hughson, Harvey Merrigan and Gary Pert.
In 1952, his last season at Fitzroy, Chanter was vice captain and actually led the club in six wins, after Allan Ruthven's absence due to injury. His final game for Fitzroy was in the preliminary final of 1952, (his fourth final in total) when the club went down to Collingwood by 19 points at the MCG.
After a three year stint coaching Maryborough, Chanter returned to Melbourne and played with Ivanhoe Imperials. He later became vice-president of the Fitzroy's Past Players Association and an honorary selector of Fitzroy when Kevin Rose was coaching.
