Ray Ball
South Melbourne and Richmond
AFL career
55 games0 goals
- Debut
- R3 1969 v NTH19 Apr 1969
- Most recent
- R3 1974 v HAW20 Apr 1974
Stats
Bio
Recruited from St Patrick's College in Ballarat, Ray Ball arrived at Richmond during the club’s golden era under Tom Hafey but found senior opportunities scarce in a star-studded backline. A safety-first, close-checking fullback known for his discipline and spoiling ability, he managed just a dozen games across two seasons at Tigerland—missing out on the 1969 premiership side—before seeking a fresh start at the Lakeside Oval. Ball found his rhythm at South Melbourne, becoming a regular fixture in defence and playing the bulk of his VFL football in the red and white. While his own career was eventually curtailed by injury, he remained heavily involved in the game as a coach and selector, though modern fans likely recognise him best as the father of Collingwood premiership player Luke Ball and Hawthorn’s Matthew Ball.
Profile
- Born
- 20 Feb 1949 (age 77y 243d)
- Height
- 185 cm
- Weight
- 86 kg
Teams
Family
- Son:Matthew Ball, Luke Ball
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from St Patrick's College in Ballarat, Ray Ball arrived at Richmond during the club’s golden era under Tom Hafey but found senior opportunities scarce in a star-studded backline. A safety-first, close-checking fullback known for his discipline and spoiling ability, he managed just a dozen games across two seasons at Tigerland—missing out on the 1969 premiership side—before seeking a fresh start at the Lakeside Oval. Ball found his rhythm at South Melbourne, becoming a regular fixture in defence and playing the bulk of his VFL football in the red and white. While his own career was eventually curtailed by injury, he remained heavily involved in the game as a coach and selector, though modern fans likely recognise him best as the father of Collingwood premiership player Luke Ball and Hawthorn’s Matthew Ball.