The Victorian government has offered Ron Barassi’s family a state funeral to honour the Australian sporting icon.
Key points:
- Barassi died on Saturday at the age of 87
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Barassi “reshaped” Australian rules
- Barassi won multiple premierships as both a player and coach
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the gesture will be made after Barassi died on Saturday, aged 87.
Andrews joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the AFL community in paying tribute to Barassi.
He also noted that Barassi died the day after a hard-fought semifinal between Carlton and Melbourne, two of the four clubs where the player and coach is revered for his contribution.
“The word legend is used a lot. But nobody deserves it quite like Ron Barassi,” Mr Andrews said in a social media post.
“He didn’t just play the game — he reshaped it.
“And how fitting that (Friday) night’s game was a cliffhanger between the Dees and the Blues.
“The government will offer Ron’s family a state funeral to remember him — and I hope they accept.”
Players and fans gave Barassi a standing ovation at Adelaide Oval and there was a short period of silence before Saturday night’s Power-Giants semifinal.
Barassi played 253 senior VFL matches in his career, including 204 for Melbourne and 49 for Carlton.
Between playing and coaching, Barassi claimed 10 premierships at Melbourne, Carlton and North Melbourne.
Only fellow Demons great Norm Smith, who coached Barassi, has as many flags in his playing and coaching career.
Barassi played in six Melbourne premierships and reinvented the playing role of ruck-rover.
He stunned the game by leaving Melbourne for Carlton after the 1964 season. Until Barassi made the move, players rarely changed clubs.
His decision is regarded as the moment when the then-VFL left its amateur origins.
Barassi coached Carlton to two premierships, with the 1970 grand final win over Collingwood considered one of the greatest season deciders.
His half-time instructions for Blues players to handball at any cost is part of Australian rules folklore.
He coached North Melbourne to its first premierships in 1975 and 1977 and returned to Melbourne as coach in the 1980s, without success.
Barassi was lured out of retirement to coach Sydney in 1993 when the club was on its knees and he laid some of the groundwork for the Swans’ grand final appearance under Rodney Eade in 1996.
AAP
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Source: AFL NEWS ABC
