Quinn

Although he managed only four senior games over three seasons at Carlton, Ray Quinn could truthfully claim that he never played in a losing side for the Blues, and that the average winning margin in each of those victories was 8 goals. Furthermore, he book-ended his career with demolitions of Essendon, which wasn’t half bad!

Very much a local lad, Ray was born in Carlton and recruited from Carlton Districts. A centreman or rover, he wore guernsey number 30 throughout his time at Princes Park and made his senior debut in round 15, 1933, when the Navy Blues played host to Essendon. Deputising for the injured Ansell Clarke that afternoon, Quinn shared the roving duties with Tommy Downs and kicked his only career goal as Carlton handed the Same Old a 43-point hiding.

Clarke returned the following week, so Quinn missed out – but then Downs was hurt and Quinn was recalled for round 17 against Melbourne at the MCG. This time, the Blues dominated the second half, with Harry Vallence brilliant at full-forward. ‘Soapy’ kicked seven goals, and the final margin was 64 points.

From that point on, Quinn’s progress was halted by a string of injuries and form slumps. He didn’t play another senior match for almost two years, until he was eventually selected as 19th man against Collingwood at Princes Park in round 9, 1935. Carlton accounted for the Pies by five goals, and followed up with a 62-point thrashing of Essendon at Windy Hill in round 10. Quinn warmed the bench just about all day, before being sent back to the Reserves for the remainder of the season.

In 1936 Ray was cleared to Carlton’s VFA neighbours Brunswick, and began a new career that made him one of the Association Magpies’ most valuable players for the next five years. He was a star in the centre for Brunswick in three consecutive Grand Finals; a 2-point loss to Prahran in 1937, a six-goal victory over Brighton in 1938, and an upset loss to Williamstown by 9 points in 1939. He finished third in the Association’s Best and Fairest award (the Recorder Cup) in 1938, and in each of those Grand Final teams was joined by another ex-Blue in Jack Cooper at centre half-back.

Quinn played for Brunswick through to 1941, when he retired after 112 games. He passed away at Ascot Vale on February 3, 1973, at the age of 60.