Ron Barassi is a true sporting icon, revered throughout for his skill, coaching acumen and charisma. But, more than that, he was just a genuinely good person, says former Blues captain Robert Walls.
Each of the four owes a significant debt of gratitude to Ron Barassi,Barassi lived the first three seasons with Norm Smith, the greatest coach in Melbourne’s history, if not the league’s, and played his 204 matches at the Demons under him.He learned well and taught even better to become the coach above all coaches, the Australian Rules football icon who won six flags as a player at Melbourne, and four as a coach at Carlton then North Melbourne.
From Brent Crosswell to Mick Nolan, to Bruce Doull to Sam Kekovich, to Robert Walls to Malcolm Blight, the coach – who was immortalised inJohn Power’s seminal book on North Melbourne’s march to a flag under Barassi in 1977 – made them into premiership players. “You were on your toes all the time...he had your attention and he could give you a fearsome blast, but he was always honest and fair,” Walls said.
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