FARREN Ray will be hoping his career at North Melbourne doesn't go backwards – like the sign on his new locker.

The 29-year-old West Australian was given what might be termed "a ray of hope" by the Kangaroos in the recent rookie draft.

However the signwriter tasked with labelling the former Saint and Bulldog's new locker clearly isn't a fan – getting his name the wrong way round.

The number 44 locker has been emblazoned with 'Ray Farren' – a cause for a laugh inside the Roos' Arden St bunker.

Ray's AFL career began at the Western Bulldogs in 2004 where he played 75 games before a further 123 games at St Kilda.