Australian Football

The master and the pupil

Dynamic duos

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Try mentioning one without citing their significant other — Simon and Garfunkel, Morecombe and Wise, Bonnie and Clyde.

This is a story of a terrific twosome, a partnership born in early 1950s Melbourne. 'Bleak City' is undergoing a makeover of sorts. The population hovers around the 1.5 million mark thanks primarily to a post-war wave of immigration, the majority of new arrivals emanating from southern Europe. Television isn’t far away, nor the Olympic Games. For the first time the quadrennial five ring circus will be staged in the Southern Hemisphere. In Victoria’s capital, the Jewel of the South.

Exciting times indeed.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia’s pre-eminent sporting venue, has been slated as the main venue for the above-mentioned Games of the XVI Olympiad and features prominently our tale.

Norm and Ron

Norm Smith’s role in the early life of Ron Barassi Junior was a significant one. When Elza Barassi moved to Tasmania in 1953, it was the coach of the Melbourne Football Club who offered her 17-year-old son a place to call home. Ron Barassi Senior, killed whilst serving in the Australian Armed Forces in Tobruk during the Second World War, played 58 games for the Melbourne Football Club between 1936 and 1940. Smith, a former teammate of Barassi Senior, will become landlord, mentor coach and friend to his impressionable offspring.

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1953 is the year in which Ron Barassi Junior makes his VFL debut. He wears the number 31 jumper, just as his father had, throughout his fabled 12 seasons with the Demons. He represents the city’s eponymous team on 204 occasions and plays an instrumental part in their decade of domination. From 1954 to 1964 (inclusive) they qualify for eight Grand Finals and capture six Grande Olde flags in the process. Barassi is named best afield in the 1955 and 1957 finales.

When John Beckwith relinquishes the captaincy of Melbourne at the end of the 1959 campaign the vacancy is filled by his second-in-charge, Ron Barassi. Barassi holds the position for the following five seasons leading the Red and Blue to pennants in the Olympic years of 1960 and 1964. When Smith is satisfied his work from the MCG boundary is complete the natural progression, from Master (Smith) to Pupil (Barassi) appears to be a forgone conclusion.

But before generational change can be effected another suitor steps in and makes the Man who would be King an offer he can’t refuse.

We are the Navy Blues

Winning five and drawing one of their 18 home-and-away commitments in 1964 confines the Carlton Football Club to a 10th-place finish, the worst in the club's 68 season VFL tenure. Change on and off the playing field at Royal Parade is inevitable.

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Sir Robert Menzies and George Harris share a moment

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In the December committee elections club dentist and one-time Changi prisoner of war George Harris leads his 'Progress' party to victory. Harris’s impressive 2233--to-926 votes triumph ends Lew Holmes’ seven-year presidential rule and sets off a seismic shift in both the footballing and financial fortunes of the Princes Park outfit.

The new chief’s opening gambit will demonstrate the 'by whatever means necessary' philosophy the Blues will embrace during his vibrant, hard-nosed and often turbulent two-term reign as club El Supremo. With Christmas in the offing Harris, metaphorically of course, dons a red suit, adds a fake white beard and plays Santa Claus to the craven Carlton crowd. The present he leaves under the tree is a doozy. He appoints Ron Barassi the reigning captain, current club best-and-fairest winner and heart and soul of the Melbourne Football Club as captain-coach of the Blues for the next three seasons.

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In January an outraged Melbourne committee assemble, specifically to consider Ron Barassi’s application for a clearance. His request is rejected. Furthermore, the board respond to the Blues audacious attempt to lure their champion six kilometres north of Jolimont and lodge an official complaint with the Victorian Football League. They claim the Blues have breached completion rules by approaching and consequently signing Barassi without their permission. A written apology from Carlton to Melbourne follows and the Demons drop their complaint. The prospect of losing his best player to an opposition club didn’t fluster Norm Smith, who continued to publicly support his protégés application for a clearance throughout the summertime soap-opera.

On Tuesday 16 February 1965, the Melbourne Football Club Board convened to reconsider Barassi’s request for a release. They grant him his wish. Addressing the media later that evening Melbourne secretary Jim Cardwell (above left) said that whilst the decision hadn’t been unanimous they (Melbourne) had relented because “in view of Ron’s service we feel he has earned the right to gain a clearance and he will be going with the best wishes of (our) club”.

Keep calm and carry on

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Despite losing their talisman, the mood within the champ’s camp was anything but gloomy. In the March 6 edition of The Sporting Globe, newly minted Demon skipper Hassa Mann took a 'glass half full' attitude to the recent departure of Ronald Dale Barassi:

“The fact that he’s left Melbourne has offered a great challenge to myself and the rest of our players. For years people have been saying Melbourne is Barassi and Barassi is Melbourne and that we’re not capable of winning games without him”

A week later the Globe carried some interesting comments from Norm Smith. Addressing his men prior to an intraclub practice match to be held that afternoon he told them:

“I think you can prove you’re a better side than last year. I expect you to be stronger, even without Ron Barassi.”

Bookmakers agreed with the 'Red Fox' and the opening odds for the 1965 Premiership saw Melbourne installed as 5/2 favourites, followed by Geelong at 7/2, Collingwood 5/1, Hawthorn 7/1 and Essendon 8/1. Prior to Barassi’s clearance request being upheld, you could have got 25/1 if you fancied a flutter on the Blues; post transfer they’d shortened to 10/1. Football fans eager to experience the initial Smith v Barassi encounter would have to wait until the eighth round of the home-and-away schedule on Saturday 5 June 1965. The venue — Princes Park, Carlton.

On with the show

Punters who had placed their hard earned cash on a Redlegs repeat felt would have felt quite pleased with themselves two months into the 1965 campaign. Despite the absence of their reigning 'B&F' winner, Melbourne were a perfect seven from seven heading into the Princes Park blockbuster. Sure, four wins were by six points or less – but good teams win the close ones — don’t they?

At 5-2, Carlton sat in fourth place. What a difference a year makes. Rewind 12 months and the Battlin’ Blues were a woeful 2-5. In addition to the guiding hand he provided as coach, Barassi was starring on the park. His 36 disposals in the Round 5 visit to Victoria Park were pivotal in a 20-point victory over the Magpies. A fortnight later his 26 touches were invaluable in a hard fought 16-point win at Windy Hill.

The build-up

In his Monday morning column for the Age veteran sports scribe and former Melbourne Football Club captain Percy Beames declared:

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Hassa Mann

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“Melbourne’s pride would be hurt and Smith’s prestige lowered if Barassi came out next Saturday to lead Carlton to victory. As far as Barassi and Smith are concerned the next six days will be something like a Grand Final”.

Beames was spot on. It was something like a Grand Final. With a touch Christmas and a helping of Mardi Gras.

When questioned about his sides’ upcoming assignment Barassi responded:

“It will certainly feel strange. I hope I don’t handball to the wrong side when I’m under pressure“, adding that he, “wasn’t treating this game any differently, but, of course, we realise it's important”.

Despite protestations to the contrary, anyone with both a pulse and passion for the nation’s indigenous football code knew the game meant so much more than the four premiership points on offer. Bragging rights were on the line. Old Money v New (or, soon to be) Found Affluence. Establishment v Aspiration.

Hassa Mann’s blunt retort when probed about his team’s imminent challenge was:

“We must win this one for Norm. It means more to him than us”.

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Barassi spiced up his Tuesday training session by acquiring the services of a number of Victorian Amateur Athletic Association officials to assist in an evening of sprint work. Players were timed at 15, 40 and 100 yards respectively. Barassi was clocked the fastest over 100 yards at 11.1 seconds with John Reilly, John Goold and Kevin Hall running 11.3. Sergio Silvagni (thigh) spent the evening running laps, Gordon Collis (foot) was reduced to gym work.

Norm Smith, unhappy with his side’s recent patchy form, ordered a 40-minute practice match hoping to stimulate his players’ competitive juices. The injured duo of Graeme Jacobs and Brian Dixon, absentees from the weekend win at the Western Oval, were likely inclusions subject to fitness.

By mid-week the bookies were unable to split the teams and offered even money for both teams. Carlton’s pennant odds had shortened to 11/2, with Melbourne and Geelong equal premiership favourites at 6/4.

The sides, when announced on Thursday night, carried few surprises.

Sergio Silvagni, having shaken off the ill effects of his thigh injury, was an automatic selection. Gordon Collis’ debilitating foot ailment hadn’t healed sufficiently and confined the 1964 Brownlow Medallist to another Saturday in the stands. Collis hadn’t played senior football since the round three loss at South Melbourne. With no change to the 20 man squad that knocked over Essendon the previous Saturday the Blues looked like this:

B: Ian Collins, John Reilly, Brian Buckley
HB: Graeme Anderson, John Gould, John Gill
C: Cliff Stewart, Roger Hoggett, Gary Crane
HF: Kevin Hall, Ken Greenwood, Bryan Quirk
FOR: Sergio Silvagni, Jim Miller, Terry Board
FOLL: John Nicholls, Ron Barassi
ROV: Adrian Gallagher
19^th/20^th: Berkley Cox, Ian Nankervis

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Melbourne made three changes to the team that outlasted Footscray a week earlier and welcomed back Barry Bourke, Graeme Jacobs and, for the first time in over a month, five-time premiership player Brian Dixon. Tony Anderson couldn’t be considered due to injury, Graeme Watson was relegated to the reserve bench and round seven debutant Robin Andrew returned to reserve grade. The Demons side was selected as follows:

B: Neil Crompton, Tassie Johnson, Robert Miller
HB: Frank Davis, Don Williams, Peter McLean
C: Stan Alves (above right), Hassa Mann, Brian Dixon
HF: Kerry Rattray, John Lord, Barry Vagg
FOR: Graeme Jacobs, Barry Bourke, Ken Emselle
FOLL: Graham Wise, Bryan Kennealy
ROV: John Townsend
19^th/20^th: Hugh Bromell, Graeme Watson

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In addition to the four premiership points up for grabs the two sides would contest the inaugural R.D Barassi trophy, to be awarded to the winner of all future Carlton v Melbourne matches (including Finals).

Critics' choice

Whilst the Melbourne Herald’s chief football writer Alf Brown picked the Demons to continue their undefeated run, its tabloid stablemate the Sun News Pictorial’s high profile Saturday morning pontificator was backing Barassi’s boys.

In his match day preview Lou Richards believed the home side would “get the chockies”. The pre-game buzz that had swamped the city had obviously gotten to 'the Lip' who pronounced:

“So help me the way people are talking about the clash between the Demons and the Blues you’d reckon it was for the Heavyweight championship of the world. And they’d be right. I’m billing it as the fight of the century – Cassius Barassius v Sonny Smith”

Melbourne’s three commercial television networks, Channel’s 7, 9 & 0, sent camera crews to cover the game for their replay programmes that would screen later that evening. The Australian Broadcasting Commission wasn’t going to miss out on a piece of the action and covered the game on local radio station 3LO. Calling the shots for 'Aunty' were Ken Dakin, Noel Bailey and Collingwood legend Thorold Merrett.

The game

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The Princes Park gates opened to the public at 10.00am, an hour earlier than usual. By 1.00pm the ground was at full capacity. Some motorists were forced to park more than a mile from the stadium and walk the remaining distance.

Despite a strong training session on Thursday evening Carlton’s Sergio Silvagni (right) hadn’t fully recovered from a thigh injury he sustained the previous week and was a last minute withdrawal. Maurie Sankey replaced the incapacitated Silvagni and went straight into the run-on team. Whilst Norm Smith sent the same eighteen players selected on Thursday into action, he made one positional adjustment prior to the opening siren. John Lord, originally selected at centre half-forward went to a forward pocket, with Graeme Jacobs going in the opposite direction.

Barassi grabbed whatever advantage there was in winning the coin toss and elected to kick to the scoreboard (outer) end of Princes Park. Only two of Barassi’s former teammates, Hassa Mann and 'Tassie' Johnson, bothered to shake hands with him prior to the opening bounce.

First quarter

Barassi received an early 'welcome' from some of his former comrades, Graeme Jacobs in particular appeared hell-bent on making his former skipper’s afternoon as difficult as possible. Umpire Jeff Crouch judged Jacobs’ efforts somewhat overenthusiastic and awarded the Carlton captain-coach a couple of free kicks in the opening minutes of play. 18 year old Bryan Quirk, the youngest player on the field, had the first shot in anger but failed to make the most of his early opportunity. His point was the opening score of game and gave his side an early, slender lead.

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From the opening bounce the brilliant John Nicholls (left) stamped his authority on the game. Controlling the ruck contests, Nicholls provided silver service for his on-ballers. Unfortunately Terry Board (three behinds) and Adrian Gallagher (two behinds) couldn’t take full advantage of the dominance of 'Big Nick'. The visitors were first to settle in an otherwise scrappy opening stanza. Six-pointers to Barry Bourke, John Townsend and Ken Emselle helped the Demons establish a 15-point lead to the first break. At quarter time Melbourne 3.3 (21) led Carlton 0.6 (6).

Second quarter

The Carlton crowd came to life eight minutes into the second quarter courtesy of a Ken Greenwood snapshot that registered the Blues first goal of the game. Unbowed, Melbourne took charge, but just as the hosts had in the first term suffered a bad case of goalkicking 'yips'. The worst offender - Barry Vagg, whose three shots on goal produced a treble of minor scores.

Emselle stopped the rot and his second major of the afternoon pushed the margin out to a handy 19 points (4.7 to 1.6). Last minute inclusion Sankey kicked a point but made amends shortly after and moved his team within 12 points (2.7 to 4.7). Emselle answered with his third goal for the game and came close to another shortly after, however his shot was touched in transit and compelled the goal umpire to wave a single white flag.

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Bryan Kenneally, tasked with curbing Barassi’s influence, was executing Smith’s instructions to the nth degree, and caused his high profile opponent to commit a number of uncharacteristic handling errors. At the completion of the first half Melbourne, 5.10 (40), enjoyed an 18-point lead over Carlton 2.10(22).

Third quarter

Both sides made positional changes prior to the resumption of play. Smith, for the second time in just over an hour, swapped Lord and Jacobs back to the positions they were originally selected. In an attempt to quell Hassa Mann’s influence and add more grunt to his midfield, Barassi moved Ian Collins to the centre and dropped Roger Hoggett into a back pocket.

Hassa Mann and Ron Barassi exchanged pleasantries which led to Mann offering his old buddy a cheeky backhander for good luck. A finger wag from Mann put a full stop on the interaction between current and previous on-field commander of the MFC.

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The high octane encounter looked to have claimed its first victim when the experienced Brian Dixon (left) received a heavy bump that left him feeling worse for wear. Dixon, whose Monday-to-Friday job was representing the good burghers of St Kilda in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, played on but wasn’t as effective as he’d been prior to the long interval.

Quirk took a nice grab and slotted the host’s first goal of the third quarter. Carlton pushed hard for another but were denied by a dogged Demon defence led by Neil Crompton, Peter McLean and Robert Miller. Barassi, Jim Miller and Terry Board (twice) botched chances to take a major chunk from the deficit and despite gaining the ascendency around the ground the Blues still trailed by four points on the scoreboard.

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When Tassie Johnson (right) was 'no balled' from a kick-in, Adrian Gallagher seized the moment. Grabbing the ball from the resultant stoppage, Gallagher’s snapshot sailed through the big sticks, edging the Navy Blues ahead (4.18 to 5.10). The lead was short-lived. Jacobs, a recipient of some terrific lead-up work from fellow 'tall' Lord, snapped truly and put the Dees back in front. Kenneally followed up with another, then Mann added his name to the list of goal kickers. In the blink of an eye Melbourne had established a useful 16-point buffer. (8.10 to 4.18). With three-quarter time looming Board broke through for his first major of the game. At the completion of the third period Melbourne (8.11) were ten points to the good of Carlton (5.19).

Final quarter

Both combatants created early chances but failed to execute for maximum result. Gallagher notched his fifth behind for the day and was followed by minor scores from Lord and Kerry Rattray for the Dees. The home side swept down field and Board bobbed up for his second goal of the half and the spread was a mere five points in favour of the away team. Barassi’s upstart Blues had laid down the gauntlet. How would the champions respond? Was the capacity crowd of 41,561 about to witness a changing of the guard?

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The Demons' reply was short, sharp and devastating. Three goals in the space of three minutes — a pair from Mann and another from the barren-headed Lord — effectively decided the contest. Barassi, sensing the urgency of the moment, picked up Mann. Too late; the horse had bolted. Barrie Vagg continued the procession and kicked truly after gathering possession from a boundary throw in. Mann turned provider for the Demons firing a handball to the hard working Kennealy who converted for maximum points. Game, set and match.

FULL TIME SCORES: Melbourne 13.17 (95) defeated Carlton 6.22 (58)

GOALS
Melbourne: Emselle, Mann 3; Kenneally 2; Bourke, Townsend, Jacobs, Lord, Vagg
Carlton: Board 2; Greenwood, Sankey, Quirk, Gallagher

Click here for full match stats.

Simply the best

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The victors were wonderfully served by Hassa Mann who gathered 24 kicks, two handballs and capped off his fine work with three important second-half goals. Ken Emselle’s 18-kick, three-handball, three-goal afternoon was splendid. Bryan Kenneally’s efforts in keeping Barassi in check were superb. Tassie Johnson and Neil Crompton (right) were outstanding across the backline.

For the vanquished none were better than John Nicholls who rucked tirelessly throughout the game and by the end of proceedings had worked himself to a state of total exhaustion. The Sun News Pictorial’s Ross Properjohn described his efforts accordingly:

“Nicholls had no peer in the ruck duels and was best man on the ground”

Others who gave their all for the Carlton cause included Ken Greenwood, and, despite their inaccuracy in front of goals, on-ballers Terry Board and Adrian Gallagher.

The reaction

There was never any doubt where the spotlight would be shone post-game. Under the banner headline “The old masters match” The Herald’s Alf Brown singled out the turning point in this fascinating fixture:

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Alf Brown

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“Three goals in three minutes early in the last quarter gave Melbourne coach Norm Smith yet another triumph.” Brown praised Smith’s squad noting the Demons were “faster and better”.

The Sporting Globe was just as flattering and proclaimed “Norm! Still the Master”.

“Norm Smith retained his title of the master when his Demons trounced his star pupil Ron Barassi’s Blues by 37 points”

Both coaches admitted to having had pre-game nerves, with Smith suggesting the hyperbole during the lead up as similar to “a Grand Final”. He hailed his one-time co-tenants’ Collins/Hoggett half-time switch, saying the move “ brought Carlton into the game”.

Smith lavished praise on his men in the way they approached their individual duties as well as their team obligations:

“Every man was asked to regard Saturday’s game as a challenge to the Melbourne team rather than a challenge to me as a coach, to play for the team’s honour and hold its place at the top of the premiership list.”

Whilst the final result was unsavoury, Barassi managed to find a diamond amongst the despair:

“On the way up there are lessons to be learned and this was one of them. Melbourne showed us how to play the game for 100 minutes and every Carlton player, including myself, will benefit.”

He noted the defeat was,  “a football lesson that would pay off later in the year, not only when we meet Melbourne again but against all other teams”.

Asked about his own performance, he somewhat dejectedly responded:

“I was disappointed with my own form. I wanted to play well in this game and possibly tried too hard.”

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Two separate reviews questioned the home team’s use of handball, particularly when advancing from defence. Writing a guest column in the June 12 issue of Harry Beitzel’s Footy Week, Thorold Merrett (right) targeted the Blues backline opining they, “….foolishly did too much handpassing with the biggest offender Captain Coach Ron Barassi".

The two-time Collingwood premiership player thought Barassi’s men were, "overawed by the big occasion and this was evident by their spoiling of one and another in going for marks and their overuse of handball”.

In the Monday June 7 edition of the Melbourne Age, Ron Carter bemoaned the home side's, “haphazard forward work”, and that the Blues, “helped beat themselves with their sloppy and unnecessary use of handball”.

Carter singled out Barassi as “ one of the worst offenders in the handball department.”

It could be argued Barassi’s 'crazy handball' theory cost him the chance to put one over his old club on that June afternoon in 1965. Five years later his belief in the same philosophy delivered him a famous victory, on the biggest stage, with the largest ever crowd in attendance.

Lose the battle, win the war!

They're in the money

Anyone who considered Smith v Barassi (I) was nothing more than a fight for premiership points seriously underestimated the depth of feeling the game evoked throughout the football loving public. Two generous cashed up Melbourne supporters made their feelings known in the most basic way.

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Prior to the match Melbourne received an offer of a bonus 50 pounds for every goal by which the team defeated Carlton. As such, the six-goal triumph would’ve amounted to a cool £300 windfall (equivalent to $7988.62 in 2018) that would have been shared by the 20 players who represented the Redlegs that afternoon.

Smith kept the original offer a secret, explaining that he didn’t want his team to feel,  “that they were playing for special monetary reward”.

Notified that he wasn’t compelled to come good his substantial offer, the jubilant booster nevertheless donated £100 pounds to the club. Melbourne’s eighth win in as many starts had another delighted devotee digging deep to double the dividend. The £200 bounty was distributed amongst the successful squad, each player receiving a special £10 'bonus' for their labour.

What happened next

Upon reflection, Melbourne’s 37-point defeat of Carlton on June 5 1965 provided the last hurrah for Norm Smith’s Mighty Melbourne machine. Sitting pretty at 8-0, four points clear at the top of the table, it appeared for all intents and purposes the Redlegs remained THE team to beat for the 1965 title. It’s doubtful anyone with an interest in the game could have guessed what would follow.

Next up the Demons faced an up-and-coming St Kilda side. In front of an MCG Queens Birthday holiday crowd in excess of 72,000, the Saints 61-point romp gave a glimpse of both teams’ fates for the remainder of the decade — Sensational Saints, moribund Melbourne. The belting triggered a form slump and Smith’s men dropped three from four. Illustrating how important early wins are their 9-3 record afforded them a share of top spot on the VFL ladder, trailing St Kilda and Geelong by percentage. The impending Round 13 match up with North Melbourne, an opponent Smith’s men hadn’t lost to for over a dozen years, suddenly took on a an importance they couldn’t possibly have envisaged as recently as a month prior.

Truth be told, the empire was crumbling.

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On the eve of their first visit to the Coburg City Oval, North’s temporary home ground, the footballing world was stunned when the Board of the Melbourne Football Club relieved Norm Smith of his coaching duties — by telegraph no less. Tension between coach and committee had been bubbling away for some time, with Smith aggrieved by the lack of financial support in his on-going legal battle with umpire Don Blew. Smith had publically called Blew a cheat and Blew responded by suing Smith for defamation.

Stepping in to replace Smith was club icon Frank 'Checker' Hughes. Hughes had coached Melbourne to four premierships in 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1948. Hughes was also credited as the man responsible for changing the Melbourne Football Club’s nickname from the Fuchsias to the Demons. The problem was, Checker was 71 years of age, and had last coached the club on Grand Final day 1948.

The ill-considered move back fired and North Melbourne controlled the game from start to finish to register a comfortable 21-point victory [11.15 (81) to 9.6 (60)] over the shellshocked Smith-less outfit. The win was the Roos third of the season, the first at their Harding Street abode.

On Sunday 25 July 1965, Norm Smith appeared on Tony Charlton’s Footy Show on GTV9 Melbourne. When asked of his dismissal an emotional Smith was adamant the origins of the breakdown of his relationship with the committee could be traced to his comments regarding Don Blew. Smith believed his public support for the release of Ron Barassi added 'fuel to the fire'. When asked of the probability of a reconciliation Smith responded there was, on the proviso “those responsible for my sacking would offer themselves for re-election”.

Back in the saddle

Wise heads prevailed and Smith was re-instated the following week in time to prepare the team for a do-or-die MCG meeting with Fitzroy. Victory over the perpetually underperforming Lions was paramount to revive the clubs faltering finals prospects. A win would ensure Brian Dixon’s 200 ^th game of VFL football would be remembered for the right reasons. Despite an almost impotent second half in which they managed a measly two goals, Smith and Co staved off a final quarter surge from the Roys.

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Whilst unconvincing, the two-point win saw Smith’s side advance to a 10-4 record, equal second, fifth on percentage. Finals footy remained a distinct possibility, but the die had been cast and Melbourne lost their final four contests. A season that started so promisingly delivered a 10-8, seventh place finish. For the first time since Ron Barassi’s debut season of 1953, Norm Smith had no official football commitments in September.

Smith remained in charge at the MCG for the following two winters, a miserable 3-15, for an 11th-placed finish in 1966, and a slightly less odious 8-10, seventh-placed ranking in 1967. On August 26 1967 he left the Melbourne coaches bench for the final time. Appropriately, the Demons bade farewell to Norman Walter Smith with a hard fought four-point win over Essendon. The game is also remembered for as drawing the curtains on the coaching career of Bombers legend John Coleman.

At the time of his shameful, short-lived sacking in July 1965, Norm Smith had won 185 of 268 games as coach of the Demons, a winning clip of just over 69%. The remaining 42 games of his tenure at the club delivered 12 victories at a 28.5% success rate.

Melbourne’s heart-stopping four point win over the hated Magpies in the 1964 decider remains their most recent title success. Those more superstitious fans of the Red and Blue believe the committee’s heavy-handed attempt to remove the clubs most successful coach, less than a year after their twelfth VFL pennant, has resulted in a curse being placed on the one-time powerhouse.

Irrational rot? I wish I knew.

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Norm Smith experienced a 'gap' year in 1968. The sabbatical was brief and he returned to the game he loved the following season to take the reins of the South Melbourne Football Club. Smith’s part in steering the success starved Swans to a fourth place finish in 1970, the club's first finals appearance in a quarter of a century, cannot be understated. It remains a high point (at least to this author) of a glorious three-club (he piloted Fitzroy from 1949 to 1951) 23-season coaching journey.

The messiah

Ron Barassi’s first two seasons at Princes Park ended with the Blues posting identical 10-8, sixth-place records. A loss in 1967’s penultimate game provided the impetus for Carlton’s successful run to the 1968 premiership. The first of two flags he would snare during seven seasons in Navy Blue, Barassi will forever be remembered for masterminding an astonishing 1970 Grand Final comeback.

Trailing Collingwood by 44 points at half time, Barassi instructed his team to use handball as a weapon, and to play on at all costs. The ploy worked, and in a phenomenal turnaround Carlton chased, caught and eventually passed the Woodsmen to register a 10-point victory. The game remains one of, if not the, greatest VFL/AFL Grand Final of all time.

In late 1972 Ron Barassi arrived at Arden Street hellbent on delivering North Melbourne its maiden VFL premiership. With the help of a 'win-at-all-costs' committee led by Allen Aylett (yet another dental practitioner involved in footy politics), the Roos soared from pretenders to contenders overnight. Almost. Contesting six Grand Finals (two in 1977) during Barassi’s eight seasons under the shadow of the Gasometer, Shinboner dreams turned to reality when they landed their first VFL premiership in 1975. North returned to the winners’ dais two years later when they accounted for Collingwood in the 1977 Grand Final Replay, the two sides having played a draw a week earlier.

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Barassi completed his footy '360' when he accepted the senior coaching position of the Melbourne Football Club in the 1980/81 off-season. Any Dees' fans hoping the return of their favourite son would reinvigorate a team that had stunk since the mid '60s were left bitterly disappointed. Inheriting a list that scared few opponents, and without the cash afforded him at Carlton and North Melbourne to attract new blood, the glory days remained a distant memory. Never seriously threatening to qualify for finals during his five years at the MCG, Melbourne’s results fluctuated between adequate and abysmal, the later vividly demonstrated by the deplorable one-win, 21-loss record in Barassi’s 1981 'homecoming'.

The final stop on Ron Barassi’s football odyssey saw the biggest name in the game land in the nation’s largest city. By the early 1990s Sydney’s AFL entity was uncompetitive on the field and haemorrhaging cash off it. If not for the increasing significance of broadcast rights and the necessity of a presence in the countries commercial hub the AFL might have considered euthanizing the Swans.

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Arriving in May 1993, the Bloods 0-5 and in last position, Barassi provided the struggling organisation with a desperately needed injection of relevance. Across the ensuing two and a half seasons Barassi, and a hard working administration that included former Footscray legend Kelvin Templeton as its CEO, helped the Harbour town club morph from unloved to unmissable. When he resigned as coach at the completion of their 1995 playing commitments, the club Barassi exited was unrecognizable from the one he had helped rescue from the precipice.

In 1996, a year after Barassi’s resignation, the Sydney Swans qualified for that 'One Day in September'.

Legends

Between 1965 and 1971 Ron Barassi and Norm Smith met as opposing coaches on 11 occasions. With the exception of his opening bout victory, Smith’s only other success as coach against his former charge came courtesy of South Melbourne’s 77-point annihilation of Carlton in May 1970.

Upon assuming control of North Melbourne Barassi hoped to appoint Norm Smith as his assistant. Sadly, Smith’s health issues prevented the pair from reuniting and on 29 July 1973 Norm Smith passed away as the result of a cerebral tumour. He was 57 years of age. In 1979, the VFL introduced a medal in honour of Smith that would be awarded to the player voted best afield on Grand Final day. Fittingly, the initial winner of the Norm Smith Medal was Carlton’s Wayne Harmes, Smith’s great nephew.

Norm Smith and Ron Barassi were both inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame upon its establishment in 1996 with Smith being named coach of the AFL Team of the Century that year. Ron Barassi was elevated to 'Legend' status immediately upon induction. Smith joined Barassi in the elite 'Legend' category in 2007.

On February 27 2018, Ron Barassi celebrated his 82nd birthday.