TOPIC:

Sadly, 1978 East Perth premiership player Mick Ray has passed away.
Of course, Perth fans would have fond memories of Mick, who played 88 games with the Demons (1969-74) before adding a further 65 with the Royals (1975-79) and then four with Subiaco (1980).
Mick was no stranger to grand finals - playing in two with Perth and a further two with East Perth - but it wasn't until he played in his fourth that he tasted the ultimate success.
I had a quick chat with Mick at a club function the best part of a decade ago and he was a ripper bloke.

Very sad to be reading that news AD. I well remember his playing days from both Perth and the Royals. Versatile from what I remember. And would'nt have been very old either. 

Mick was only 70, WAG.
Yes, he was a very versatile footballer and, speaking from an East Perth perspective, it was sad when he, Archie Duda and Brent Levitzke all moved to Subi in 1980.
John Dimmer went the other way and played some very good footy for the Royals.

There was a Mick Ray for Perth around 83-85.  Different fellow?

That was Mick "Stinger" Rea, TFF.
He played a few games in the VFL for Melbourne, had a couple of seasons with West Perth, then kicked bucketloads of goals for Perth during the 1980s. 
 

Archie I've done business with Stinger Ray.When he finished with the Demons. He captained coached Nollamara in A Grade.Think he was at Perth 1982-87..In 1986 Perth made the Preliminary final..Stinger kicked 120 goals that year.

Yes Mick Ray was a very handy player for Perth in the early seventies, and was then part of the ex Perth contingent in ‘78. I remember him being able to play in a variety of positions.
 

gtrxuone wrote:

Archie I've done business with Stinger Ray.When he finished with the Demons. He captained coached Nollamara in A Grade.Think he was at Perth 1982-87..In 1986 Perth made the Preliminary final..Stinger kicked 120 goals that year.

Stinger would be up there as one of Perth's greatest-ever goalkickers, gtrxuone.
I checked Ric's FootyFacts website and he booted 463 goals in 121 games for the Demons, an average of just below four a game.
I can only imagine the carnage Stinger would've inflicted on opposing defences when he joined Nollamara.
 

Cesspit wrote:

Yes Mick Ray was a very handy player for Perth in the early seventies, and was then part of the ex Perth contingent in ‘78. I remember him being able to play in a variety of positions.

Cess, I think Ken Armstrong might have sacked Mick Ray, with his last game being the 1974 Grand Final.
According to the 1975 Football Register, five WAFL clubs chased Mick before he signed with East Perth.
Of course, Mick ended up playing in two grand finals against the Demons for a 50% strike rate.
I seem to recall that soon after Mick was traded to Subiaco, the Lions sacked Peter Burton as coach and one K Armstrong assumed the reins.
Suffice to say, Mick only played four games for Subi.