Yeah, a true champion of the game on and off the field.
I first met Brad Fittler as a 15 y.o. kid (now 24) whilst playing in a junior rep team. Our team was playing the Penrith U15 team as part of the curtain opener before a Penrith game at Panthers and we were warming up the afternoon before as most age rep teams will do.
Anyway, after a spirited run on the famed oval for all of 30 mins, we were coming off and Freddy was there early talking with some official. He broke conversation and came met the guys in which we were invited back to the dressing sheds after their game the following night.
That night, we met the boys, and the highlight was talking to Brad Fittler uniterrupted for 5 mins whilst he was getting alot of well wishers after starring that night. He was giving just general advice on what it takes to be a footballer, then started talking about OUR game and individual aspects we can improve on. To say we were floored is an understatement and since that brilliant day, I was a Brad Fittler fan barring Origin time of course!
Great bloke, I wish him the best in retirement.