Australian Football

Recruited from Kingsville, Ray Baxter was a useful forward who played 80 VFL games and kicked 120 goals for Footscray between 1958 and 1964. He played for a victorious Victorian B team against Tasmania in 1959. He was the Bulldogs' top goal kicker in 1959 with 42 goals and the following year with 37. He was perfectly capable of playing in defence when required, with a case in point being the triumphant 1963 night series grand final when he lined up at centre half back.

After leaving Footscray Baxter spent the 1965-6-7 seasons as captain-coach of VFA second division club Mordialloc whom he steered as far as a losing grand final in his first year. He was also successful in claiming the Bloods' 1965 and 1966 best and fairest awards. This closing phase of his career saw him make 28 senior VFA appearances and score 62 goals.

Author - John Devaney