'Full and extraordinary life': AFL legend Ron Barassi dies aged 87

"The Coach" is a great book.

He was an Australian Rules champion. There fixed it (from a Port boy in SA)

Maybe he was bigger than Melbourne Carlton or Victoria? Legend and Champion get thrown around too easily but he sure was

Greatest football personality I recall in my lifetime. Probably any sport.

Yes, and Brassi copied Oatey's style after taking Carlton down to SA for games. Before then and even into the 80s the Vic style was get ball kick ball. The SA style was to handball a lot and the WA style was short possession kicking. Both styles are now part of the modern game.

He was a VFL legend, not an AFL legend.

for me - - I chose North Melbourne in the 1970s as my team.......Barassi was my coach and "Column 31" in the Sun News Pictorial was.....often over my head at that point in time.

I was fortunate enough to meet the man and chat one on one about footy as a young bloke, i got his autograph and he gave me the time of day, what a legend and gentleman. We spoke about the most emotional moment in the game - how could you pick one! Like many giants of sport, very humble, he reflected not on his personal achievements but the reactions from others that obviously touched him. He spoke about winning the Premiership with North for the first time and the impact it had on so many people. Supporters came up to him with so much emotion to thank him as they had followed the club for 50 years without success. Tears running down their faces as many said their soul was now at peace seeing their beloved Kangas win a flag. I think he really understood the impact he had on so many people in the game of AFL. So passionate about the game and realised how it brought people together from many diverse backgrounds. A Giant of the sport and an unbelievable contribution - we miss all you Ron! :crying:

I love the coined word....."Barassity". That player played with great Barassity.......

The perfect leader for North in the sensational 70s. 6 GFs.

Thanks mate. Rest calmly.

Vale Ronald Dale Barassi. It is hard to argue that anyone in the game has a greater legacy than he, since Tom Wills. He is the reason we have a father/son and now father/daughter rule. He had a new position created for him, the Ruck Rover, for the bigger bodied midfielder; think how many there are of those now. The six premierships as player (with two as captain) is equal second to all time, with only Michael Tuck ahead. Three times All Australian. As coach, his four premierships puts him in the upper echelons of coaching. In 1968, he took Carlton to their first premiership in 21 years, which until now was their longest premiership drought. The 1970 Grand Final remains one of the all time great grand finals, with Carlton coming back from 44 points down at half time to win. This is something that probably wouldn't have been possible if he had not coached the attacking use of handball and playing on. That type of football revolutionised the game, and is a staple of the modern game. At North Melbourne he took a club in its 51st season to its first premiership, and two years later, to its second. In his coaching forays at Melbourne and Sydney, he didn't have the same on field success, but off field work at the Swans had a huge part in transforming a relocated club who were floundering in the 1980s, to the strength we know today. The Swans made the Grand Final the year after he finished coaching and hold an important place in the Sydney sporting landscape now. That club rated his influence enough to award him life membership, the fourth club to do so. He was pioneer in helping to make the code a national one, but it was also he who was the first to venture to Ireland in a bid to attract Gaelic Footballers to the game. If not for Ron, we wouldn't have had the likes of Jim Stynes, Tadgh Kennelly and Zach Tuohy playing the game. If the AFL is to name the premiership cup after a figure of the game, there is not a worthier candidate than Ronald Dale Barassi. As a Melbourne supporter, I am sad and sad for his family. I am also proud that such a great figure in our game was also such a great figure at our club, and that he chose to activley support our club after his career as coach and and administrator had finished. Vale Ronald Dale Barassi, 1936-2023.

Brilliant idea milo :thumbup:

He was pretty good for a Victorian. I liked him

Yep, no brainer to name the cup after him. Hopefully they can’t get it done for this year.

I echo everything others have said above. Only a handful of individuals have contributed to our game like Barassi did. A giant, a champion, a competitor, a statesman, a gentleman, a mentor - what a life.

I absolutely endorse that idea Milo. Vale Barass, no matter how expert the person talking, conversations stopped when you spoke. Truly, an extraordinary life.

Giant of the game,great player,coach person,condolences too all his family and freinds at this time

Sad news. I know how much he was loved by many Australians. My mum even spoke of him and she has never liked football much. I am too young (I don't use those 4 words to start a sentence often) to have seen him play but I was shipped down to Melbourne for 72 GF with my grandfather to watch his Carlton team get up in a massive match. Stood on empty steel beer cans to get a view past all the adults. Quite an experience for a 13yo from Sydney.

Genuine Legend of the game. Inflicted a fair bit of misery on Collingwood but I always admired and respected him. Read the book "The Coach" many years ago. A good insight into what a brilliant coach he was and North's 1977 premiership against the Pies. He was a fire and brimstone sort of coach, as was common in that era but he was probably a bit more fiery than most. Also a genuine motivator, innovator and strategist. Condolences to the Barassi family. R.I.P Ron.