Ray Bauskis was a sharp shooter for South Fremantle for most of the seventies.  He topped the Bulldogs goalkicking from 1973 to 1980, and headed the WAFL list in 1977 with 108, as well as 1978, when he had forty odd on the board before a broken arm in round eight sidelined him for enough time to deny him the hundred.Yet his kicking almost cost Bauskis his career as a forward.  When  we  caught up with Ray at his busy Byford Premiere Realty offices, he declared: “I was a shocking kick.  I’d kick bags of 1 goal six and seven in the ressies before Ray Sweetman(well known trotting driver and future father in law) showed me how ugly my kicking looked on video.”“Percy Johnson was the bloke who made me as a footballer”, Ray added.  The then coach of the Bulldogs put in the time with the fledgling forward and after that he didn’t look back.Ray Bauskis was a favourite among South supporters. Alternating between centre half forward and goalsneak, he was a strong mark, complemented by a fast burst on the lead, making him a difficult proposition for any defender. He was selected for Western Australia twice,  although was a late withdrawal from one with an injury.  “Lining up on Bruce Doull was an experience”, was Ray’s comment about his interstate debut. He reckoned his hardest opponent was Doug Green(East Fremantle) and the pair clashed on many occasions. Quizzed about the best he played with, he found the champs, Michael and Rioli, impossible to separate. Ray’s thoughts on the game today came in two words…Big Business. Leg injuries were to curtail the Ray Bauskis career, although he tried everything available, including Civilian Maimed And Limbless apparatus, which made walking difficult, let alone running. Ray Bauskis retired prematurely at the age of 26 early in the 1980 season, missing out on being a part of the flag South Fremantle won that year.These days Ray has a busy life running Byford Premiere Realty in the booming Byford area.  When we put it to him that with his father in law’s coaching he could be driving a winner at Gloucester Park, he said with a wry smile ” I had that in mind but after seeing me go around in a trial at Richmond Raceway, Ray Sweetman and Lyle Lindau both said “Stick to footy, son!”