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Ray's still busy with regional football Print E-mail
Bendigo FLRAY Byrne started playing senior footy with Golden Square way back in the early 1970s. In fact he played in a senior premiership side in just his second season with the Bulldogs, in 1972.

Now the region manager of the Bendigo Pioneers in the under-18 TAC Cup, Ray went on from his early BFL days to forge a great career in the then VFL.

He played 219 games with Carlton (81), Collingwood (121) and Geelong (17) and ran out in no less than 22 finals matches, including four grand finals.

He encountered some formidable coaching personalities during his time at the top level with Big John Nicholls, Ian Stewart and Tom Hafey (at two separate clubs) the most noteworthy.

Ray said Hafey ranked as the most outstanding. “I learned the trade under Big John, but being coached by Tommy was a great experience.

“His honesty and the confidence he instilled in players were his greatest assets. He had the respect of every player,” Ray recalled.

AS a teenager Ray Byrne was in the Square’s 1971 BFL grand final side thrashed by Eaglehawk in the season decider.

A year later it was a far different story. Bulldog coach Bill Bonney had infused a tremendous ethos in the Golden Square side and the Dogs outlasted South Bendigo in a tough, physical clash on the QEO.

In 1973 Ray lined up in a back pocket as Carlton clashed with Richmond in the VFL grand final.

The ex-Square boy was part of the Blues’ defence which contained one of the club greats in Geoff Southby. Brian Walsh was Carlton’s rover at the first bounce.

Carlton’s bid for consecutive VFL flags was thwarted by the Hafey-coached Tigers who won 16.20 (116) to the Blues’ 12.14 (86).

North Melbourne’s Keith Greig won the Brownlow Medal that year from Graeme Moss (Essendon) and Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn). Collingwood’s Peter McKenna won the goal-kicking with 86 from Doug Wade of North Melbourne on 73.

Six years later Byrne was part of a Collingwood side led at that stage by Hafey, but again the Golden Square boy was left not with the chocolates but the boiled lollies.

Magpie ruckman Peter Moore had won the Brownlow yet the Blues scraped home by less than a kick on grand final day, 1979: 11.16 (82) to the Pies’ 11.11 (77).

“To be beaten was extremely disappointing but there were no regrets about leaving Carlton (at the end of 1978),” Ray said.

“Carlton in 1978 was not a happy place to be. Robert Walls, a great friend of mine, was in dispute with the club and ended up leaving.

“I had signed with Melbourne before clearances closed but a call from Tommy Hafey, who was at Collingwood by then, changed all that.”

The way Ray got to Collingwood three decades ago is reminiscent of the scenario which exists in AFL trade week now. A four-player switch involving several clubs had to be negotiated.

Two more grand finals were to come --- in 1980 against Richmond and in 1981 against Carlton --- with two more seasons left with the Magpies in 1982 and ’83.

Ray then thought seriously about retiring from VFL footy. Again, it was Hafey who extended Ray Byrne’s career by one year.

“I’d retired at the end of the 1983 season but Tommy, who had gone to Geelong to coach, urged me to play one more season,” he said.

He spent 1984 at Kardinia Park, racking up another 17 matches, before finally landing back in the BFL with twin brother Phil at South Bendigo in 1987.

Ray was assistant coach at South during his one season with the Bloods notching up 17 games there, too.

The sight of Ray Byrne in a red and white South jumper was too much for the Square diehards. He was lured back to Wade Street and just as he had done a decade-and-a-half earlier he played in another BFL grand final for the Bulldogs.

This time in the 1988 play-off the Brian Walsh-coached Bulldogs downed Northern United by 14 points and stopped the Swallows from taking off five Bendigo Advertiser cups in succession.

Twelve months on and Ray Byrne again had his hands around a premiership cup. The Square beat South Bendigo in the 1989 grand final.

With the on-field challenges, including donning the Bendigo inter-league guernsey, completed Ray turned his hand to football administration.

A year as development officer with the Queensland Australian Football League in 1990 was followed by a decade with the Gippsland Power as part of the TAC Cup competition.

Ray finally returned to his beloved Wade Street complex (now known as Country Vet Oval) in 2001 and has overseen the development of many stars through the Pioneers programme.

With thanks to Nathan Dole and the Bendigo Advertiser for material used in compiling this article.

Richard’s tips for Round 17: Gisborne, Eaglehawk, South Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat. Progress total: 52

By Richard Jones
 
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