Swift has a special place in the history of the Richmond Football Club as the captain of the drought-breaking 1967 premiership team.

[2] Swift played in two practice matches with Richmond in 1957[3] but was not given a full, extended clearance; and he consequently returned to Sandhurst for the 1957 season.

[5] He starred in Richmond's 1958 pre-season practice games[6] – "he marked well, played on with determination once the ball hit the ground, and frequently sent his side into attack with long, driving kicks into the goal mouth"[7] – and, by mid-April 1958, nineteen years old Swift, regarded by Richmond as the "recruit of the year",[8] was finally cleared to the Tigers.

[12] At nineteen, he played his first senior game for Richmond against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1958 season on the half-forward flank.

[13] He was a highly talented footballer, with great anticipation, and highly polished ball skills, and he was equally at home in the forward line[14] – he kicked 5 goals against Fitzroy in round 18, 1966; and, when moved from center half-back to full-forward, in the last quarter against St Kilda in round 6, 1959, he kicked 3 goals, in a losing side[15] – wing, centre, or in defence".

He played on the half-back flank in the first match against Tasmania on 19 July 1961,[24] until he injured his ankle and was replaced; Victoria won by 61 points: 23.30 (150) to 12.17 (89).

In his final game, the 1967 Grand Final against Geelong,[39] he not only captained his team to a premiership, but he was one of the best on the ground, somewhat nullifying the impact of the temperamental Geelong hairdresser and champion full-forward, Doug Wade, who was nearly five inches (11 cm) taller and more than two stone heavier (14 kg), and was widely expected to out-class Swift.

Geelong fought back during the third quarter and, at one stage, led by 14 points; however, Richmond counter-attacked and the scores were level.

Both Tony Polinelli and Bill Ryan kicked poorly, each scoring a behind, placing Geelong ten points behind; and then, with plenty of time for Geelong to get another goal, and breaking out of a pack, Goggin punt-kicked what seemed certain to be a goal (which would have reduced the lead to a dangerous four points).

The tenacious Swift – already greatly tired from having to captain his team, counteract the stronger, heavier, and taller Wade, and kick the ball back into play after the eight behinds that Geelong had scored up to that moment in the last quarter), single-mindedly concentrating on his task, took one of the finest marks of his career at the Punt Road end of the M.C.G.

With the strong September afternoon sun shining directly into his eyes, without any opposition (with the goal umpire crouching in a perfect position to determine its legality), he first caught the ball perhaps ten feet above the ground (3m), right on the goal line, to turn Geelong away, and retain Richmond's lead of ten points.

[44] Richmond did all it could to induce Swift's to stay in the following week, but he was adamant that he would not change his mind, and they parted on friendly terms.

In his own time with Sandhurst, he had been coached by former Hawthorn rover, by then playing as a ruckman, Kevin Curran, and by former North Melbourne wingman, Leo Francis.

At Richmond he had been coached by Alan McDonald, Des Rowe, Len Smith, Jack Titus, and Tom Hafey.

[52] According to the account of Tom Hafey, a former Richmond team-mate, coach, and long-time friend of Swift, "The kids [who killed him] knew the layout of the house.

Swift's car, a dark blue XC Ford Falcon, was found abandoned in bushland several kilometres from the scene of the murder.

In November 1983, a jury found Larson guilty of murder and armed robbery, and found Lee guilty of manslaughter and armed robbery; they were sentenced, by Mr. Justice Hampel, to life imprisonment and seven years' gaol respectively on Monday, 12 December 1983.

[59] Four and a half years later, on 30 March 1988, Larson escaped from custody at the Melbourne City Watch-house in company with Paul Alexander Anderson (who had been imprisoned for car theft and other convictions).

In November 2003, Larson (who was now living in Preston) appeared in court, facing 13 charges rising from an entirely unprovoked knife attack on three unarmed cleaners at Southbank at 2:00 am on 29 September 2003.

[61] The grace, strength, and safety of his marking, especially at full-back, has seldom been matched;[62] and the consistent beauty, length, and accuracy of his drop kicking was wonderful to behold.

At Richmond he was a greatly respected and very popular clubman, who was "always available to help the recruits with some friendly advice and took a keen interest in the development of the younger players ensuring that they fitted in well" (Hogan, 1996, p. 224).

[64] A grandstand at the home ground of the Corowa Football Club was named The Fred Swift Stand in his honour.

[2] The "Fred Swift Medal" is awarded in his honour each season to the player who finishes fourth in Richmond's best and fairest count.