Australian Football

The archetypal nuggety, terrier-like rover, Ray Huppatz was without doubt one of the greatest players ever produced by, or to represent, the Woodville Football Club. Debuting in 1966 with just one appearance for the year he went on to become a regular in the ensuing seven seasons, for part of which time he helped the 'Peckers to field arguably the strongest first ruck combination in Australia featuring, along with Huppatz himself, future Richmond premiership ruckman and VFL state representative Craig McKellar, and one of the bona fide legends of the game in Malcolm Blight, who would become the first ever player to win both the Magarey and Brownlow Medals.

After 125 league games for Woodville, which elicited club best and fairest awards in 1969-70-71 and 1973, Huppatz joined Footscray in the VFL where he soon earned a reputation as a tigerish, classy, determined customer. After 67 games for the Bulldogs he crossed to North Melbourne and added a further 19 games in 1978 and 1980, being forced to miss the whole of the 1979 season with a knee injury. He was high among North's best players in the losing 1978 grand final against Hawthorn.

On returning to South Australia, Ray Huppatz played initially with his former club Woodville, adding 17 SANFL games to his tally in 1981. He then moved on to Port Adelaide where he finished his career with a further 38 games over the ensuing four seasons. Huppatz also played interstate football for both South Australia and the VFL.

Author - John Devaney