Ray Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Kehm "Ray" Smith (born 23 September 1948) is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Essendon
and Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1970s.
As a teenager, Smith not only played Australian rules football but also represented Queensland at Under 19s rugby union
. He started his football career at Sherwood and then in 1968 made his first appearance in the QAFL
with Western Districts
. In 1970 he spent the year playing rugby league
for Valleys
and was a centre in the side which won the Brisbane Rugby League premiership.
He moved to Victoria in 1971 and joined Essendon, with whom he would spend five seasons. A half back flanker, Smith played 91 consecutive games in the period from
1972 to 1976. After playing in the first twelve rounds of the 1975 VFL season
for Essendon, he would switch clubs during the week and play the remaining ten rounds at Melbourne. In 1976, when Melbourne defeated Footscray
at Western Oval, Smith became the first footballer from Queensland to play 100 VFL games.
Smith finished his career in the Victorian Football Association
, where he captain-coached Camberwell
in 1977 and 1978. He then played with Brunswick
for the season and was a member of their 1980 premiership team.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1970s.
As a teenager, Smith not only played Australian rules football but also represented Queensland at Under 19s rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. He started his football career at Sherwood and then in 1968 made his first appearance in the QAFL
Queensland Australian Football League
The Queensland Australian Football League was an Australian rules football competition for clubs from South East Queensland.Up until 2010, the QAFL was the premier semi-professional competition in Queensland, with salary cap rules and regulations in place.It was previously known as the Queensland...
with Western Districts
Western Magpies Australian Football Club
The Western Magpies Australian Football Club is the senior Australian rules football club of the western suburbs of Brisbane which competes in Division One of the AFLQ State League. The club is based at 41 Chelmer st, Chelmer, at the same grounds as the Sherwood Junior Australian Football Club and...
. In 1970 he spent the year playing rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for Valleys
Fortitude Valley Diehards
The Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
and was a centre in the side which won the Brisbane Rugby League premiership.
He moved to Victoria in 1971 and joined Essendon, with whom he would spend five seasons. A half back flanker, Smith played 91 consecutive games in the period from
1972 to 1976. After playing in the first twelve rounds of the 1975 VFL season
1975 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1975.-Premiership season:In 1975, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
for Essendon, he would switch clubs during the week and play the remaining ten rounds at Melbourne. In 1976, when Melbourne defeated Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
at Western Oval, Smith became the first footballer from Queensland to play 100 VFL games.
Smith finished his career in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, where he captain-coached Camberwell
Camberwell Football Club
Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore dark blue, white and red club colours...
in 1977 and 1978. He then played with Brunswick
Brunswick Football Club
Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...
for the season and was a member of their 1980 premiership team.