The Collingwood Football Club is saddened by the passing of former player Ray Jones who died peacefully last week at the age of 97.
At the time of his death, Ray was the Club’s oldest past player and is well remembered by many at the Club for his appearance at the 2021 Anzac Day match where he tossed the coin.
In 1943 Ray started his football career with Collingwood in the reserves before he made his AFL debut in 1946. Ray would have made his senior debut earlier had he not enlisted with the Royal Australian Navy. Ray didn’t play serious football again until the Second World War ended where he was courted by St Kilda and Essendon before deciding to return to Victoria Park.
Ealy in his career, Ray had success as a key forward but spent most of his time at Collingwood as a centre half-back. Ray played 22 games across three seasons before crossing to Melbourne for one senior game, and then to Perth where he was part of South Fremantle’s 1953 premiership side.
Football was only a small part of Ray’s story – once he returned from the war, Ray completed a degree of architecture at Melbourne University, where he learnt from Robin Boyd, and went on to become one of Australia’s most well-regarded modernist architects. Ray established his own architecture firm when he relocated to Perth and contributed to many significant building designs. Ray resided in Western Australia for the remainder of his life.
The Collingwood Football Club acknowledges Ray Jones’ contribution as a footballer to this Club, for his service to this country, and his influence as an architect across the globe. The Club extends its deepest condolences to Ray’s wife Sonja, son Lincoln and the Jones family.
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To read Ray’s full story and the stats from his career, check his bio on Forever: