Inside Gate 2 of the Members’ Reserve sits our Wall of Excellence, showcasing our MCC athletes who have excelled at their chosen sport.
From football and cricket to netball, rowing and hockey –each week we profile a member from the Wall and celebrate their accomplishments.Ron Barassi
A ten-time premiership player/ coach, Barassi is one of the greats of the game in a career spanning 50 years.The 254-gamer with Melbourne and Carlton found success early in his career, claiming his first premiership in 1955 – just two years after making his debut for Melbourne.
Part of the dominant Demons’ team of the 1950s and 1960s, Barrassi won six premierships with the Club, including two – 1960 and 1964 – as captain.
Following his successes with the Demons, Barassi shocked the football world in 1965 when he transferred to Carlton as a captain/coach. Following his 50 matches with the Blues, Barassi stayed on a Princes Park as coach – delivering premierships in 1968 and 1970.
After a playing stint with Port Melbourne in the VFLA in 1972, Barassi returned to the VFL as coach of North Melbourne in 1973 – delivering the Club’s first two premierships in 1975 and 1977. He also returned to the Demons to coach the Club from 1981-1985 before beginning his final coaching stint in 1993 with the Sydney Swans.
When visiting the MCG, you can see the lasting legacy left by Ron Barassi from the Ron Barassi Café located in the Great Southern Stand to his statue in Tatersall’s Parade of Champions located outside of Gate 4.
Career highlights
- 6 VFL premierships as a player (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964)
- 4 VFL premierships as a coach (1968, 1970, 1975 and 1977)
- 2 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medals (1961 and 1964)
- 2 Melbourne leading goalkicker (1958 and 1959)
- Melbourne Captain (1960-1964)
- Melbourne Hall of Fame – Legend status
- 3 All-Australians (1956, 1958 and 1961)
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame member
- AFL Team of the Century (rover)
- Australian Football Hall of Fame – Legend status