Ray Poulter

Ray Poulter was a powerful key forward who became a consistent avenue to goal for Richmond during the decade following the Second World War. The son of Collingwood premiership player Joe Poulter, Ray was recruited from Greensborough and made his senior debut as a teenager in 1946. While he inherited his father's nickname of "Big Joe," he carved out his own identity as a strongly built spearhead capable of holding down centre half-forward or full-forward. A natural footballer with a thumping left-foot kick and strong hands overhead, Poulter was often the focal point of the Tigers' attack, though critics occasionally noted his relaxed approach to training.

Despite playing in a Richmond side that struggled to replicate its dominance of the 1930s and early 40s, Poulter remained a standout offensive threat, topping the club's goalkicking list in 1949, 1950, and 1955. He represented Victoria three times and finished runner-up in the club's Best and Fairest, cementing his status as one of the Tigers' most reliable performers of the era. After 170 games and earning Life Membership at Punt Road, he departed the VFL in 1957 to become captain-coach of Castlemaine in the Bendigo Football League, where he continued his prolific scoring form.