Ray Card has been sentenced to nine years in jail after the former Geelong player, who had been four times over the legal drink drive limit, caused a car accident in November 2024, which killed his wife, Amanda McDonald, and injured a 19-year-old woman.
The 68-year-old pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death and a second charge of negligently causing serious injury to another.
He will be eligible for parole after serving four years of his sentence.
The crash occurred on the Geelong Ring Road on November 16. Mr Card and Ms McDonald were returning home from a wedding in Lara when the former Cats player drove onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with a BMW.
The County Court of Victoria heard that Mr Card had a blood alcohol reading of 0.226 following the crash.
Both Mr Card and Ms McDonald had been drinking during the wedding. The former AFL player had initially planned to leave his car at the wedding venue and take a taxi home to his residence in Grovedale.
Former Geelong player Ray Card (right) has been sentenced to nine years in jail after pleading guilty to causing a car crash that killed his partner, Amanda McDonald (left)
Card (pictured) also pleaded guilty to a second charge of causing serious injury to a 19-year-old woman
The accident left a 19-year-old promising volleyball player with serious injuries that required her to use a wheelchair during a long recovery. His partner, Ms McDonald died at the scene.
During a sentencing hearing at the County Court at Geelong on Thursday, Judge Gerrard Mullaly told the court that Mr Card’s decision to drive home was a ‘catastrophically bad decision.’
Police body camera footage recorded following the crash was shown to the court. It showed Mr Card taking immediate responsibility.
‘It’s my fault, I’m pissed,’ he had said.
During sentencing, Judge Mullaly explained that the consequences of the crash and Mr Card’s blood alcohol reading made the case a ‘serious example of culpable driving.’
The judge also explained his shock to the court at Mr Card’s blood alcohol level, saying that it was a figure that he had not encountered for over 20 years.
The court also heard 15 character statements for Mr Card. One of those came from Ms McDonald’s family, while multiple former Geelong players also issued statements.
Card made 110 appearances for Geelong between 1977 and 1987 before stepping into coaching
The McDonald family has remained supportive of Mr Card, with Judge Mullaly stating that he was ‘deeply impressed by their generosity of spirit’ despite the loss of Ms McDonald.
Judge Mullaly took the references into consideration when handing down the sentence, and also noted Mr Card’s remorse.
‘Your personal qualities are not dismissed or given lip service by me… plainly you are much more than the one diabolically bad decision you made,’ the judge said.
Mr Card had also issued a letter to the McDonald family, where he expressed his deep remorse.
‘The time I spend in jail will not compare to your life now, and the loss of the love of my life,’ the former Geelong player wrote.
‘I wish it had been me.’
Mr Card had been admitted to hospital following the crash, where it was found that he was suffering from a terminal cardiac illness.
The football player has a 36 per cent chance of living for a further five years.
It has also been revealed that Mr Card is suffering from a terminal illness and has a 36 per cent chance of living for five years
‘A just or appropriate sentence may well mean you spend the rest of his life in jail,’ Judge Mullaly said, taking note of his illness.
He added: ‘You should have hope, even if faint, that you survive the non-parole period.’
Mr Card made 110 appearances for Geelong between 1977 and 1987.
Following his playing career, Mr Card stepped into coaching and would take charge of multiple local footy sides, including Wangaratta and Milawa.
