Ray Smith

Who is Ray Smith?

Raymond Kehm "Ray" Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League 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.