Ray Orchard
Richmond
AFL career
8 games2 goals
- Debut
- R14 1966 v MEL30 July 1966
- Most recent
- R16 1968 v SME3 Aug 1968
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Langwarrin on the Mornington Peninsula, Ray Orchard was a physically imposing prospect standing 194cm—a massive height for a footballer in the mid-1960s. A versatile key position player capable of operating as a ruckman, centre-half forward, or centre-half back, he was renowned for his strong overhead marking and booming long kick. Despite his raw physical tools, Orchard struggled to break into a formidable Richmond lineup at the dawn of the Tom Hafey era, often finding himself stuck behind established stars like Mike Green and Neville Crowe. Consequently, he became a dominant force in the lower grades, playing in three consecutive reserves Grand Finals—including the 1966 premiership victory—before departing Punt Road to become a decorated VFA star with Dandenong and Frankston.
Profile
- Born
- 09 Aug 1946 (age 80y 74d)
- Height
- 194 cm
- Weight
- 94 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Langwarrin on the Mornington Peninsula, Ray Orchard was a physically imposing prospect standing 194cm—a massive height for a footballer in the mid-1960s. A versatile key position player capable of operating as a ruckman, centre-half forward, or centre-half back, he was renowned for his strong overhead marking and booming long kick. Despite his raw physical tools, Orchard struggled to break into a formidable Richmond lineup at the dawn of the Tom Hafey era, often finding himself stuck behind established stars like Mike Green and Neville Crowe. Consequently, he became a dominant force in the lower grades, playing in three consecutive reserves Grand Finals—including the 1966 premiership victory—before departing Punt Road to become a decorated VFA star with Dandenong and Frankston.