Farren Ray
Encyclopedia
Farren Ray is an Australian rules football
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
with the fourth pick in the 2003 AFL Draft
.
He debuted in 2004, playing seven games. He then played 14 games in the 2005 season followed by 21 in the 2006 season. At the end of 2006 he played his first two finals matches, in the first he gathered his highest possession count for the season with 27 touches.
Ray quit the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 2008 season to look for opportunities elsewhere. He feared there could be limited opportunities at the club again next year and was disappointed to be dropped after the qualifying final loss to Hawthorn. He has said that he had to move to give himself the opportunity to become a regular senior footballer. There were question marks on his decision making and willingness to strongly contest the ball. During the 2008 trade week he was traded along with the Round 3 draft pick, number 48 overall, to St Kilda for their Round 2 pick, number 31 overall.
), most expected Ray to be a fringe player who could add some handy depth to the side. But he exceeded all expectations, playing in all of the Saints' 22 home and away games plus all finals in his first season at the club. He was only one of two players at the Saints to do so, the other being defender Jason Blake
.
Ray was a valuable contributor for the Saints throughout 2009. His first match against his previous club was successful, gaining 31 disposals and 11 marks and probably only shaded for best on ground honours by teammate Brendon Goddard
in the Saints' 28 point win.
Ray played in 22 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Ray played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
As of the end of the 2010 season, Ray had played in 10 finals series matches including three grand finals.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Western Bulldogs: 2004-2008
Ray was recruited from Peel ThunderPeel Thunder Football Club
The Peel Thunder Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team is based in Mandurah, Western Australia, with their home ground being Rushton Park...
with the fourth pick in the 2003 AFL Draft
2003 AFL Draft
The 2003 AFL Draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
.
He debuted in 2004, playing seven games. He then played 14 games in the 2005 season followed by 21 in the 2006 season. At the end of 2006 he played his first two finals matches, in the first he gathered his highest possession count for the season with 27 touches.
Ray quit the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 2008 season to look for opportunities elsewhere. He feared there could be limited opportunities at the club again next year and was disappointed to be dropped after the qualifying final loss to Hawthorn. He has said that he had to move to give himself the opportunity to become a regular senior footballer. There were question marks on his decision making and willingness to strongly contest the ball. During the 2008 trade week he was traded along with the Round 3 draft pick, number 48 overall, to St Kilda for their Round 2 pick, number 31 overall.
2009 season
After being traded to the Saints for selection 31 (Jordan RougheadJordan Roughead
Jordan Roughead is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Western Bulldogs. Roughead plays most of his football as a ruckman but also can play forward, who was selected with the 31st selection in the 2008 AFL Draft, after playing for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup. He was...
), most expected Ray to be a fringe player who could add some handy depth to the side. But he exceeded all expectations, playing in all of the Saints' 22 home and away games plus all finals in his first season at the club. He was only one of two players at the Saints to do so, the other being defender Jason Blake
Jason Blake (footballer)
Jason Blake is an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League . He holds the record for most games played without accruing a single Brownlow Medal vote.-AFL career:Blake was recruited as the number 24 draft pick in the 1999 AFL Draft from the...
.
Ray was a valuable contributor for the Saints throughout 2009. His first match against his previous club was successful, gaining 31 disposals and 11 marks and probably only shaded for best on ground honours by teammate Brendon Goddard
Brendon Goddard
Brendon James Goddard is an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League...
in the Saints' 28 point win.
Ray played in 22 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Ray played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
2010 season
Farren Ray played 25 games in 2010, including four finals matches.As of the end of the 2010 season, Ray had played in 10 finals series matches including three grand finals.