WELCOME
G’day friends - from far and near, across Australia and the world, welcome to my
home online.
I invite you to join me on my journey into the heartland of Australian sport and
culture; into our great national game, Aussie Rules football.
I would love to share with you and your friends what I have learned as a player,
a coach and, most important, as a person over a long and fortunate life in Australian
football. I’ll give you my take on how history was made, and how you too are creating
history now as you tour with me.
You can leave your footprints on this journey and have fun along the way.
As in life, so in football - the only certainty is change. On my website I promise,
you’ll never have enough in one visit and in my world there’s always something new.
So please join me NOW on this tour …
NEWS AND EVENTS
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Ron Barassi
Barassi's emotional tribute to father
BIOGRAPHY
Ronald Dale Barassi is a legend for many reasons; incredible player, revolutionary
coach, enduring media personality. For more than 50 years he has been one of the
most influential people in the game, and the shadow he casts is matched by few,
if any.
Even without meaning to, Barassi had changed the game without taking to the field.
His father had been a premiership player at Melbourne, before being killed in action
at Tobruk in World War II. Determined to follow in his footsteps at the Demons,
Barassi Jnr had to bypass the zoning system of the day - which would have seen him
sent to either Collingwood or Carlton.
To ensure he played with the Demons, Melbourne went to the VFL and successfully
lobbied for a Father-Son rule. When the time came for Barassi to be signed up, Melbourne
picked him up from Preston Scouts in 1952 and he became only the second player under
the new rule.
FOOTBALL
Born in 1936, Ron Barassi’s biography is nothing short of inspirational.
In 1952, Barassi was picked up by the Melbourne Club (from the Preston Scouts).
This in itself was ground breaking, as there was a zoning system in place that meant
he should have been picked up by Collingwood or Carlton. Instead, the Father-Son
rule came into existence, and, like his father before him (a fallen WW II soldier),
Ron took the field for Melbourne – a premiership player at that.
Coach Norm Smith, who played alongside Ron’s father, became Barassi’s champion and
mentor. In 1957, owing to Barassi’s obvious talent, he was chosen to vice-captain
Melbourne. Within three years, Barassi was appointed captain. Under these honours,
he helped take Melbourne to six premierships.
ONLINE SHOP
Purchase your own copy of Barassi's books:
- Icons of Australian Sport - Ron Barassi
- Barassi: The Biography
- Ron Barassi Wisdom
TESTIMONIALS
Ron's speech was excellent and he was very obliging on the day with answering questions
and signing autographs
Ageing Positively Festival
Ron was terrific to the crowd, pleasant and extremely easy to speak with. He was
very personable and the crowd loved him.
Bone Growth Foundation
CLIENT EXPERIENCES
Very well spoken and inspiring. Many of our guests felt motivated on a personal
and professional basis.
Melbourne Airport Travel Lodge
The entire 'This Is Your Life' team were delighted to meet Ron and we were so pleased
he helped make Sister Trish Franklin's tribute an extra special success - The look
on her face when Ron walked though the door said it all!
This is Your Life
