Australian Football

Ray Holden was a polished and extremely effective full back who for a time was arguably the best player in that position in Western Australia. He hailed from Tuart Hill, from where he was recruited by West Perth. Between 1979 and 1983 he played a total of 79 senior games for the club, impressing with his sound judgement, aerial prowess and dependability. 

He played state football for Western Australia on four occasions, with his form in 1982 in particular genuinely outstanding. Unfortunately for Holden, there was no All Australian team chosen that year, but if there had been he would almost certainly have been among the first players picked after featuring high in the best player lists for the home and away matches against South Australia and the home fixture against the Vics.

In 1984, Holden crossed to VFL club Melbourne but found it hard to dislodge Danny Hughes from the full back position, and only managed three senior games for the year. He then returned home to Western Australia where he joined Perth, playing 24 senior games for the club in 1985 and 1987. During 1987 he returned 'home' to West Perth, taking his final tally of games with that club to 102 by the time he retired two seasons later.

Author - John Devaney