Ray Barrett

Recruited from Stratford in the Gippsland region, Ray Barrett arrived at the Junction Oval in 1956 alongside fellow country recruit and future star goalkicker Bill Young. Standing at an imposing 196cm, Barrett was a giant for his era, utilised primarily as a ruckman who could drift forward to provide a tall aerial target. Despite his significant height advantage, he found it difficult to cement a regular spot in the senior side, managing just 10 games across two seasons interspersed by a complete absence from the senior team in 1957. While his teammate Young went on to become a key fixture of the Saints' forward line, Barrett's VFL career remained a brief cameo as a backup big man during a developing period for the club.