View source for Ron Barassi

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (1936–2023)}}
{{for|the Melbourne footballer and corporal|Ron Barassi Sr.}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Ron Barassi<br />{{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}}
| image = Ron_Barassi_in_2008.png
| alt = 
| caption = Barassi in 2008
| fullname = 
| full_name = Ronald Dale Barassi Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|2|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Castlemaine, Victoria]], Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|9|16|1936|2|27|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia
| originalteam = Preston Scouts
| height = 179&nbsp;cm
| weight = 87&nbsp;kg
| position = Midfielder
| statsend = 1995
| years1 = 1953–1964
| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}
| games_goals1 = 204 (295)
| years2 = 1965–1969
| club2 = {{AFL Car}}
| games_goals2 = {{0}}50 {{0}}(35)
| games_goalstotal = 254 (330)
| sooteam1 = [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]]
| soogames_goals1 = ?  (?)
| coachyears1 = 1965–1971
| coachclub1 = {{AFL Car}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 147 {{0|00}}(99–47–1)
| coachyears2 = 1973–1980
| coachclub2 = {{AFL NM}}
| coachgames_wins2 = 198 {{0}}(130–65–3)
| coachyears3 = 1964; 1981–1985
| coachclub3 = {{AFL Mel}}
| coachgames_wins3 = 111 {{0|00}}(34–77–0)
| coachyears4 = 1993–1995
| coachclub4 = {{AFL Syd}}
| coachgames_wins4 = {{0}}59 {{0|00}}(13–46–0)
| coachgames_winstotal = 515 (276–235–4)
| careerhighlights = '''Club'''
*6× [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|VFL Premiership player]]: ([[1955 VFL Grand Final|1955]], [[1956 VFL Grand Final|1956]], [[1957 VFL Grand Final|1957]], [[1959 VFL Grand Final|1959]], [[1960 VFL Grand Final|1960]], [[1964 VFL Grand Final|1964]])
*2× [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal]]list: (1961, 1964)
*2× {{AFL Mel}} [[List of Melbourne Football Club leading goalkickers|leading goalkicker]]: (1958, 1959)
*{{AFL Mel}} [[List of Melbourne Football Club captains|captain]]: (1960–1964)
*[[Melbourne Football Club#Hall of Fame|Melbourne Hall of Fame]] – Legend status
*[[Melbourne_Football_Club#Melbourne_Team_of_the_Century|Melbourne Team of the Century]]

'''Representative'''
*2× [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football#Australian National Football Carnival|National Football Carnival]] Championship: [[1956 Perth Carnival|1956]], [[1958 Melbourne Carnival|1958]]
*3× [[All-Australian team]]: 1956, 1958, 1961
* Victoria captain

'''Overall'''
* [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]]
* [[Australian Football League#Team of the Century|AFL Team of the Century]] – <small>Rover</small>
* [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] – [[Australian Football Hall of Fame#Legends|Legend status]]
*[[Australian Sports Medal]]: 2001

'''Coaching'''
* 4× [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|VFL Premiership coach]]: ([[1968 VFL Grand Final|1968]], [[1970 VFL Grand Final|1970]], [[1975 VFL Grand Final|1975]], [[1977 VFL Grand Final|1977]])
* [[VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century]]
* [[AFL Coaches Association Awards#Coaching Legend Award|AFLCA Coaching Legend Award]]: 2010
}}

'''Ronald Dale Barassi''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}} (27 February 1936 – 16 September 2023) was an [[Australian rules football]]er, coach and media personality. Regarded as one of the greatest and most important figures in the history of the game, Barassi was the first player to be inaugurated into the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] as a "[[Australian Football Hall of Fame#Legends|Legend]]",<ref>{{cite web|title=Legends|publisher=AFL|url=http://www.afl.com.au/aflhq/awards/halloffame/legends/tabid/855/default.aspx|access-date=28 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917040457/http://www.afl.com.au/aflhq/awards/halloffame/legends/tabid/855/default.aspx|archive-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> and he is one of four Australian rules footballers to be elevated to the same status in the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame Awards|Sport Australia Hall of Fame]].

When Barassi was five years old, his father, [[Melbourne Football Club]] player [[Ron Barassi Sr.]], died in action at [[Siege of Tobruk|Tobruk]] during [[World War II]]. Barassi was determined to follow in his father's footsteps at Melbourne, and heavy lobbying by the club to recruit him resulted in the introduction of the [[father–son rule]], still in use by the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] today. Barassi subsequently lived with [[Norm Smith]], Melbourne's then-coach and a former teammate of his father. Under Smith's mentorship, Barassi pioneered the [[Follower (Australian rules football)#Ruck-rover|ruck-rover]] position and appeared in six [[AFL Grand Final|premiership]]-winning sides, two of which he captained. 

In [[1964 VFL season|1964]], in what has been called "the most audacious signing in league history", Barassi left Melbourne for a lucrative contract at [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]]. Retiring from playing in 1969, he coached Carlton to two premierships, including a record-breaking grand final comeback in [[1970 VFL Grand Final|1970]] before what remains the largest crowd in football history; Barassi's famous half-time injunction to his men to play on from [[mark (Australian rules football)|mark]]s and [[handball (Australian rules football)|handball]] at all costs came to be remembered as [[1970 VFL Grand Final#"The birth of modern football"|"the birth of modern football"]].<ref>Mark, David (21 September 2021). [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-21/afl-ron-barassi-melbourne-football-club/100474410 "Melbourne Football Club AFL grand final appearance a chance to emulate 'eternal son' Ron Barassi"], ABC. Retrieved 24 January 2022.</ref>
Barassi retired from professional football in 1971, but he was lured back two years later to coach [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]]. In 1981, after leading the club to its first two premierships, he returned to an ailing Melbourne, where he initiated the "[[Irish experiment]]": the recruitment of [[Gaelic football]]ers into Australian rules. His stint at Melbourne, followed by another at the [[Sydney Swans]] in 1993–95, proved vital in rebuilding those clubs as viable members of the competition.<ref>[https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ron%2Bbarassi/16019 Ron Barassi], Australian Football. Retrieved 22 January 2022.</ref>

Barassi's coaching career was both successful and regarded by many as revolutionary, and his clean record and passion for the game earned him a place as a celebrity and popular culture figure in Australia. A prominent early campaigner for a national club-level competition, he is the namesake of the [[Barassi Line]], which describes the regional split between football codes in Australia. He was named a [[Order of Australia|Member of the Order of Australia]] in 1978, and in 1996 was selected in the AFL's [[Australian Football League#Team of the Century|Team of the Century]] as a ruck-rover. Following his death, Barassi was honoured with a state funeral.

==Early life==
The only child of [[Ron Barassi, Sr.]], Barassi was born in the central Victorian town of [[Castlemaine, Victoria|Castlemaine]] on 27 February 1936.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |newspaper=The Age |title=Ron Barassi was the face of football and his legacy lives on |first=Greg |last=Baum |date=16 September 2023 |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/ron-barassi-was-the-face-of-football-and-his-legacy-lives-on-20211108-p596zt.html |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> The following year, his father moved to Melbourne to play [[Australian Football League|VFL]] football with the [[Melbourne Football Club]]. A pugnacious rover, Barassi's father was a reserve in the Demons' [[1940 VFL season|1940 premiership]] team before leaving to serve with the army in North Africa, where he died in the [[Siege of Tobruk]].<ref name="theage.com.au">{{cite web |first1=Andrew |last1=Wu |last2=Spits |first2=Scott |first3=Jon |last3=Pierik |title='He was a god to us': AFL great Ron Barassi dies |date=16 September 2023 |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/ron-barassi-dies-20230916-p5e56w.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="sahof.org.au">{{cite web|title=Ron Barassi|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/ron-barassi/|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref> The young Barassi spent his early years in [[Guildford, Victoria]]. He was educated at Castlemaine Tech and then at Preston and Footscray techs in Melbourne.<ref name="obituary"/>

Barassi was a third-generation [[Italian Australian]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/flying-the-footy-flag-for-italy/2007/03/08/1173166895168.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |title=Flying the footy flag for Italy |first=Geoff |last=McClure |date=9 March 2007 |access-date=24 September 2012 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316012843/http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/flying-the-footy-flag-for-italy/2007/03/08/1173166895168.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |url-status=live }}</ref> whose [[Swiss Italians of Australia|Swiss Italian]] ancestors migrated to Victoria during the [[Victorian gold rush|gold rushes]] of the 1850s and 1860s. They settled areas such as Guildford, Castlemaine and [[Daylesford, Victoria|Daylesford]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/profiles/Transcripts/s1069371.htm |title=George Negus Tonight |publisher=ABC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012083522/http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/profiles/Transcripts/s1069371.htm |archive-date=12 October 2004 |date=18 March 2004}}</ref>

==Australian rules football career==
Barassi unintentionally changed the game before he even took the field. After his father's death at Tobruk in 1941, a group of players and officials at the [[Melbourne Football Club]] pledged to support his widow, Elza, and her young son. As a teenager, Barassi was determined to follow in his father's footsteps at the Demons, but the [[Zoning (Australian rules football)|zoning system]] of the day required him to play for either [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]] or [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]].<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

===Father–son rule===
[[File:17 year old Ron Barassi Jnr with his fathers trophies and guernsey from The Herald 13 April 1953 pg 16.png|thumb|upright|Barassi in 1953 with his father's trophies and guernsey]]
To ensure he played with the Demons, Melbourne went to the [[Australian Football League|VFL]] and successfully lobbied for the creation of a [[father–son rule]] to allow clubs preferential recruiting access to the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team (50-game minimum at launch). When the time came for Barassi to be signed, Melbourne picked him from Preston Scouts in 1952 and he became only the second player signed under the new rule (after [[Harvey Dunn Jr.|Harvey Dunn Jr]]). This rule, with some modifications and adapted to the drafting system created in 1986, endures to the present day in the AFL.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

The club had gone to great lengths to recruit the young Barassi, and coach [[Norm Smith]] took him under his wing after his mother moved to [[Tasmania]]. Smith offered the 16-year-old use of his backyard bungalow. Looking back on the experience, Barassi believed that living with the man who was voted as the coach of the [[AFL Team of the Century|AFL's Team of the Century]] had a profound impact on his development. On his website, Barassi wrote that:<ref>{{cite web |title=Ron Barassi |url=http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029131108/http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/ |archive-date=29 October 2009 |access-date=2 January 2010 |publisher=ronbarassi.com.au}}</ref><blockquote>"Norm Smith loved his footy. That suited me fine. His ability with young people, his strength of character, his ethics and values, came into my life at the right time."</blockquote>

===Melbourne years===
[[File:Ted Whitten Ron Barassi.jpg|thumb|left|Barassi (right) and [[Western Bulldogs|Footscray]]'s [[Ted Whitten]] during a 1954 match]]
Melbourne Football Club was the dominant team of the 1950s.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> Under the coaching of Norm Smith, Barassi developed quickly.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> Barassi's first game was against [[Footscray Football Club|Footscray]] in [[1953 VFL season|1953]] in which he was shirtfronted by Footscray's [[Charlie Sutton]].<ref name="obituary"/> Initially unsure as to Barassi's best position, Smith played him as a second ruckman in [[1954 VFL season|1954]] despite his lack of size for the position. Barassi played more as a second rover, and the term "ruck-rover" entered the football lexicon.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> Within a few years, most teams imitated this structure, which ultimately paved the way for a new style of quicker on-ball play.<ref name="fullpointsfooty.net">{{cite web|title=BIOGRAPHIES [Ba-Be]|publisher=fullpointsfooty.net|url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/b.htm#Ron%20Barassi%20junior%20(Melbourne,%20Carlton,%20Port%20Melbourne,%20North%20Melbourne,%20Sydney)|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-date=10 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110040524/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/b.htm#Ron%20Barassi%20junior%20(Melbourne,%20Carlton,%20Port%20Melbourne,%20North%20Melbourne,%20Sydney)|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Barassi soon proved himself as an influential footballer, and he was quickly handed leadership responsibilities. In [[1957 VFL season|1957]], he was appointed vice-captain, and he was made captain three years later.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> After losing the [[1954 VFL grand final|1954 Grand Final]] to a more experienced Footscray football team by 51 points, the Demons dominated the VFL by winning three successive flags in [[1955 VFL grand final|1955]], [[1956 VFL grand final|1956]], and [[1957 VFL grand final|1957]], with the team at the time hailed as the best to ever play the game.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> The image of Barassi breaking a tackle in the 1957 Grand Final is captured in [[Jamie Cooper]]'s painting ''The Game That Made Australia'', commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.<ref>Australian Football League, [http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972# The Game That Made Australia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419120046/http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972 |date=19 April 2013 }}, Retrieved 19 September 2010</ref>

===Carlton years===
A resurgent Carlton gave him a dilemma in 1964. New president [[George Harris (Carlton President)|George Harris]] was desperate to have Barassi at [[Princes Park (stadium)|Princes Park]], and he was willing to offer a lucrative deal for the time – a three-year contract of [[Australian pound|A£]]9,000 (equivalent to $151,320 in 2023) plus bonuses — if Barassi would cross to Carlton as [[Player-coach|captain-coach]].<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> Carlton offered Barassi a chance to test his skills as coach with a professional wage which would help with his children's education.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

Barassi joined Carlton in [[1965 VFL season|1965]].<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> On his decision to leave Melbourne, Barassi said that "Inevitably with many decisions in life there will be a downside. It is regrettable but you have to get on with things", he said. "You have to ensure, as much as possible, that the decision you've made turns out right. Fortunately it worked out, and I'll be forever grateful to Carlton for the start they gave me in coaching."<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

Barassi's coaching at Carlton brought them from their lowest-ever VFL finish (at the time) to premiers only four years later. Drawing from his own experience under Norm Smith, Barassi forced his squad to become more disciplined and committed to the club—and their career. He preached and played a tough brand of football, and asked his charges to play a selfless, team-oriented style.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

In [[1968 VFL season|1968]], he guided Carlton to its [[1968 VFL grand final|first premiership in 21 years]]. In mid-1969, he retired from playing, he had played one game and torn his hamstring, but continued as non-playing coach, ultimately going down to Richmond in the [[1969 VFL grand final|1969 VFL Grand Final]] by 25 points; however, in the [[1970 VFL grand final|1970 Grand Final]], in front of the biggest-ever VFL crowd, he led Carlton to arguably football's most famous comeback by defeating Collingwood, who were leading by 44 points at half-time.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

After the [[1971 VFL season|1971 season]], Barassi left the Blues to focus on his business career.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/> Despite not having played football since 1969, he signed to play with [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]] in the [[Victorian Football Association]] in 1972, but he played only four games before suffering a hamstring injury and retiring.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club">{{cite web |title=At 80: the life and times of Ron Barassi |publisher=Melbourne Football Club |first=Matt |last=Burgan |date=25 February 2016 |url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/334613/at-80-the-life-and-times-of-ron-barassi |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

===North Melbourne years===
Barassi returned to coaching in [[1973 VFL season|1973]]. With administrators [[Allen Aylett]] and Ron Joseph, he recruited a new batch of stars for North Melbourne. Proven champions were recruited from clubs throughout the country, including [[Malcolm Blight]], [[Barry Cable]], [[John Rantall]], [[Barry Davis (footballer)|Barry Davis]] and [[Doug Wade]].<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

North Melbourne won the [[List of VFL/AFL wooden spoons|wooden spoon]] in 1972, finishing last. However, in 1974, in just Barassi's second year of coaching the club, North Melbourne were to come runner-up in the [[1974 VFL grand final|1974 grand final]]. Whereas Barassi had implemented a tough training regime in 1974, he modified this approach for the 1975 finals when he introduced lighter training sessions to keep his squad mentally-focused and not overtrained and exhausted. His strategy worked and they won the [[1975 VFL grand final|1975 premiership]].<ref name="obituary"/>

North Melbourne went on to win another premiership in [[1977 VFL grand final|1977]], but they nearly squandered the flag as they gave up a late lead against Collingwood to create the second-ever drawn VFL grand final before coming back a week later to win the flag. In the drawn grand final, Barassi made major positional changes, including placing North Melbourne [[North Melbourne Football Club#North Melbourne Team of the Century|Team of the Century]] full-back and captain [[David Dench]] into the forward line, which sparked North Melbourne's comeback to get back in front until [[Ross Dunne]] kicked a late goal to draw the game. Within a week, Barassi had picked his side up from this disappointing setback to lead North to a memorable triumph.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

===Return to Melbourne===
In 1981, Barassi returned to Melbourne to assist long-term under-19 coach [[Ray Jordon|Ray 'Slug' Jordon]]. The under-19s made three straight grand finals and won premierships in 1981 and 1983. Barassi laid some foundations for what would become a revitalised Melbourne side. "In the five years we were there I think we raised the level of the club quite substantially. Melbourne reached the preliminary final two years after we left, and the grand final the year after that. I felt we did some of the ground work".<ref name="ronbarassi.com.au">{{cite web|title=About|publisher=ronbarassi.com.au|url=http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/about/1.htm|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-date=4 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004225457/http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/about/1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Barassi started the "[[Irish experiment]]" at Melbourne, which started recruiting [[Gaelic football]]ers from Ireland and converting them to Australian rules footballers. He recruited the most famous of all, the [[1991 Brownlow Medal|1991 Brownlow Medallist]], [[Jim Stynes]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kicking the Sherrin across the world|publisher=ronbarassi.com.au|url=http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/news/article1.htm|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-date=19 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219111527/http://www.ronbarassi.com.au/news/article1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sydney years===
In 1993, Barassi returned to coaching for the [[Sydney Swans]]. This was seen as a coup for the AFL given Barassi's media skills and profile. In his three seasons in Sydney, he raised the profile of Australian rules football and the Sydney Swans in the [[rugby league]]–dominated city.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/>

==Statistics==
===Playing statistics===
:<ref name=afltables>{{cite web|title=Ron Barassi|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/R/Ron_Barassi0.html|work=AFL Tables|access-date=7 July 2020|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327081016/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/R/Ron_Barassi0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| [[1953 VFL season|1953]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 6 || 0 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0.0 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0
|-
| [[1954 VFL season|1954]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 14 || 12 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0.9 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1955 VFL season|1955]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 19 || 18 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0.9 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 0
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1956 VFL season|1956]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 19 || 27 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.4 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 13
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1957 VFL season|1957]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 21 || 30 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.4 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 3
|-
| [[1958 VFL season|1958]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31,2
| 18 || 44 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 2.4 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 5
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1959 VFL season|1959]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 18 || 46 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 2.6 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1960 VFL season|1960]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 18 || 21 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.2 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 3
|-
| [[1961 VFL season|1961]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 19 || 19 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.0 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 10
|-
| [[1962 VFL season|1962]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 17 || 21 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.2 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 6
|-
| [[1963 VFL season|1963]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 17 || 32 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.9 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 10
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1964 VFL season|1964]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Mel}} || 31
| 17 || 25 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 1.4 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 10
|-
| [[1965 VFL season|1965]] || {{AFL Car}} || 31
| 11 || 6 || 13 || 201 || 81 || 282 || 61 || {{n/a}} || 0.5 || 1.2 || 18.3 || 7.4 || 25.6 || 5.5 || {{n/a}} || 5
|-
| [[1966 VFL season|1966]] || {{AFL Car}} || 31
| 8 || 11 || 6 || 149 || 54 || 203 || 42 || {{n/a}} || 1.4 || 0.8 || 18.6 || 6.8 || 25.4 || 5.3 || {{n/a}} || 3
|-
| [[1967 VFL season|1967]] || {{AFL Car}} || 31
| 20 || 14 || 21 || 301 || 168 || 469 || 77 || {{n/a}} || 0.8 || 1.1 || 15.1 || 8.4 || 23.5 || 3.9 || {{n/a}} || 3
|-
| [[1968 VFL season|1968]] || {{AFL Car}} || 31
| 10 || 3 || 8 || 118 || 47 || 165 || 32 || {{n/a}} || 0.3 || 0.8 || 11.8 || 4.7 || 16.5 || 3.2 || {{n/a}} || 0
|-
| [[1969 VFL season|1969]] || {{AFL Car}} || 31
| 1 || 0 || 3 || 8 || 3 || 11 || 3 || {{n/a}} || 0.0 || 3.0 || 8.0 || 3.0 || 11.0 || 3.0 || {{n/a}} || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3 | Career
! 254 !! 330 !! 51 !! 777 !! 353 !! 1130 !! 215 !! {{n/a}} !! 1.3 !! 1.0 !! 15.5 !! 7.1 !! 22.6 !! 4.3 !! {{n/a}} !! 72
|}

===Coaching statistics===
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Ron_Barassi0.html|title=Rob Barassi|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513075517/http://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Ron_Barassi0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{AFL coaching statistics legend}}
{{AFL coaching statistics start}}
|-
| [[1964 VFL season|1964]] ||| {{AFL Mel}}
| 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || {{n/a}} || 12
|-
| [[1965 VFL season|1965]] || {{AFL Car}}
| 18 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 55.6% || 6 || 12
|-
| [[1966 VFL season|1966]] || {{AFL Car}}
| 18 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 55.6% || 6 || 12
|-
| [[1967 VFL season|1967]] || {{AFL Car}}
| 20 || 14 || 5 || 1 || 72.5% || 2 || 12
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1968 VFL season|1968]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Car}}
| 22 || 17 || 5 || 0 || 77.3% || 2 || 12
|-
| [[1969 VFL season|1969]] || {{AFL Car}}
| 22 || 16 || 6 || 0 || 72.7% || 2 || 12
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1970 VFL season|1970]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL Car}}
| 25 || 18 || 7 || 0 || 72.0% || 2 || 12
|-
| [[1971 VFL season|1971]] || {{AFL Car}}
| 22 || 14 || 8 || 0 || 63.6% || 5 || 12
|-
| [[1973 VFL season|1973]] || {{AFL NM}}
| 22 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 52.3% || 6 || 12
|-
| [[1974 VFL season|1974]] || {{AFL NM}}
| 26 || 18 || 8 || 0 || 69.2% || 2 || 12
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1975 VFL season|1975]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL NM}}
| 26 || 17 || 9 || 0 || 65.4% || 3 || 12
|-
| [[1976 VFL season|1976]] || {{AFL NM}}
| 25 || 17 || 8 || 0 || 68.0% || 3 || 12
|-
| bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1977 VFL season|1977]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL NM}}
| 26 || 18 || 7 || 1 || 71.2% || 3 || 12
|-
| [[1978 VFL season|1978]] || {{AFL NM}}
|  25 || 17 || 8 || 0 || 68.0% || 1 || 12
|-
| [[1979 VFL season|1979]] || {{AFL NM}}
| 25 || 18 || 7 || 0 || 72.0% || 2 || 12
|-
| [[1980 VFL season|1980]] || {{AFL NM}}
| 23 || 14 || 8 || 1 || 63.0% || 6 || 12
|-
| [[1981 VFL season|1981]] || {{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 1 || 21 || 0 || 4.6% || 12 || 12
|-
| [[1982 VFL season|1982]] || {{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 36.4% || 8 || 12
|-
| [[1983 VFL season|1983]] || {{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 40.9% || 8 || 12
|-
| [[1984 VFL season|1984]] || {{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 9 || 13 || 0 || 40.9% || 9 || 12
|-
| [[1985 VFL season|1985]] || {{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 6 || 16 || 0 || 27.3% || 11 || 12
|-
| [[1993 AFL season|1993]] || {{AFL Syd}}
| 15 || 1 || 14 || 0 || 6.7% || 15 || 15
|-
| [[1994 AFL season|1994]] || {{AFL Syd}}
| 22 || 4 || 18 || 0 || 18.2% || 15 || 15
|-
| [[1995 AFL season|1995]] || {{AFL Syd}}
| 22 || 8 || 14 || 0 || 36.4% || 12 || 16
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2| Career totals
! 515 !! 276 !! 235 !! 4 !! 53.4% !! colspan=2|
|}

==Select career highlights==
*6× [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] premiership player [[1955 VFL grand final|1955]], [[1956 VFL grand final|1956]], [[1957 VFL grand final|1957]], [[1959 VFL grand final|1959]], [[1960 VFL grand final|1960]], [[1964 VFL grand final|1964]].<ref name="theage.com.au"/>
*[[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] leading goalkicker 1958 (tied), 1959.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*[[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] Captain 1960–1964.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*[[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] [[Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal|Best and Fairest]] 1961, 1964.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*[[All-Australian team|All-Australian]] 1956, 1958, 1961.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*Playing coach representing Australia in [[The Australian Football World Tour|"The Galahs"]] [[international rules football|Australian Football World Tour]] 1968.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*Carlton premiership coach [[1968 VFL grand final|1968]], [[1970 VFL grand final|1970]].<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*North Melbourne premiership coach [[1975 VFL grand final|1975]], [[1977 VFL grand final|1977]].<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
*Sport Australia Hall of Fame (inducted in 1987 and elevated to ‘Legend of Australian Sport’ in 2006).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-24 |title=At 80: the life and times of Ron Barassi |url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/334613/at-80-the-life-and-times-of-ron-barassi |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=melbournefc.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] (inducted in 1996 and granted [[Australian Football Hall of Fame#Legends|Legend]] status).<ref name="Melbourne Football Club" />
* VFL/AFL Team of the Century 1996.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>
* Sport Australia Hall of Fame 2006.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/><ref name="Melbournian of the Year" />

* Melbournian of the Year 2006.<ref name="Melbournian of the Year" />

* [[VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century]] (coach) 2007.<ref name="sahof.org.au"/><ref name="ronbarassi.com.au"/><ref>{{cite web|title=The Final Team |publisher=italianteamofthecentury.com.au |url=http://www.italianteamofthecentury.com.au/final-team.php |access-date=28 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215203149/http://www.italianteamofthecentury.com.au/final-team.php |archive-date=15 February 2011}}</ref>

==Personal life==
<!-- On 4 March 1957, Barassi married Nancy Kellett, whom he had met at work four years earlier. They settled in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, at Heathmont, and had three children between 1960 and 1964. The couple separated in 1975 and Barassi married Cherryl Copeland (born in St Kilda, Melbourne) in 1981. They were married until his death in 1981. Both Ron and Cherryl were active supporters of the "voluntary assisted dying" movement.

 -->On 4 March 1957, Barassi married Nancy Kellett, whom he had met at work four years earlier. They settled in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, at Heathmont, and had three children between 1960 and 1964. The couple separated in 1975 and Barassi married Cherryl Copeland (born in St Kilda, Melbourne) in 1981. They were married until his death in 2023. Both Ron and Cherryl were active supporters of the [[Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017|voluntary assisted dying]] movement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=Royce |date=2024-06-10 |title=Cherryl Barassi relished life. Now, she says it is time to go |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cherryl-barassi-relished-life-now-she-says-it-is-time-to-go-20240607-p5jk3n.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref>

During his coaching career at North Melbourne he survived a car crash, which caused life-threatening injuries and resulted in the loss of his spleen. His passenger, former [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] player and Brownlow medallist [[Neil Roberts (Australian footballer)|Neil Roberts]], was also hurt. Barassi used a motorised buggy and a wheelchair for a short time. Despite this setback, he attended training nights at [[Arden Street]] and could be seen directing players with assistants.<ref>{{cite news |last=McFarline |first=Peter |date=26 August 1976 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zfNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RpIDAAAAIBAJ&dq=barassi%20car%20crash&pg=4429%2C6252025 |title=It's Barassi, by buggy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915120319/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zfNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RpIDAAAAIBAJ&dq=barassi%20car%20crash&pg=4429%2C6252025 |archive-date=15 September 2018 }}</ref>

Barassi's first trip overseas occurred in 1961. He later travelled much of the world. In 1967, in New York City during the [[Australian Football World Tour]], Barassi was involved in a fight in which detective Brendan Tumelty broke Barassi's nose and both were sent to the same hospital. They were friends ever since.<ref name="ReferenceA">Interview by Paul Edwards for ''Royal Auto'' magazine.  p.&nbsp;17. May 2009.</ref>

Barassi moved to the suburb of [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] in the late 1970s and lived there until his death.<ref>Divercity. The official Newsletter of the City of Port Phillip.  ISSN 1328-0309.  Issue 44 April/May 2009, p. 4.</ref>

Barassi was a passionate [[chess]] player, playing many games of classical chess in the late 1970s over the phone with [[Brent Crosswell]]<ref>{{cite AV media |title="Might be a sign!": Magpie joins Eddie McGuire as he talks about Ron Barassi |publisher=Today Show Australia |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Il1xghEs4 |access-date=2023-09-18 |language=en}}</ref>—a player whom Barassi was actively coaching—often for more than four hours at a time and lasting 50–60 moves per game. In a newspaper article, Crosswell humorously described how Barassi would psychologically break Crosswell down in over-the-board games by neglecting to bring him food or drinks and that “he would never provide chairs bearing any logical relationship to the table on which the chess set was placed”.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-05-24 |title=Even in chess a man was but a pawn to Barassi |first=Brent |last=Crosswell |page=44 |work=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-brent-crosswell-article/23094549/ |access-date=2023-09-17}}</ref>

For many years, Barassi owned the Mountain View Hotel at 70 [[Bridge Road, Melbourne|Bridge Road]] in [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]]. He sold it for $1.6 million in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Karina |last=Barrymore |date=1 December 2000 |title= Barassi sells Mountain View pub for $1.6 million  |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |url=https://www.afr.com/property/barassi-sells-mountain-view-pub-for-1-6-million-20001201-k9vk4 |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

For his 70th birthday he did a trek of the [[Kokoda Trail]] in Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/ron-barassi-75-and-so-alive/story-e6frf9jf-1226005074353?from=public_rss |title=Ron Barassi 75 and so alive |website=news.com.au}}</ref>

On 28 February 2008, Barassi launched and signed his book ''Barassi'', focusing on his personal life and scrapbook memoirs.<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>

On New Year's Eve 2008, Barassi was assaulted when he went to the aid of a young woman in St Kilda. Barassi, dining with friends, saw a woman punched to the ground around 12.30&nbsp;am.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/police-make-arrest-over-barassi-bashing/2009/01/09/1231004252357.html | title = Police make arrest over Barassi bashing | first = Mex | last = Cooper | date = 9 January 2009 | access-date = 24 September 2012 | archive-date = 17 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150417222200/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/police-make-arrest-over-barassi-bashing/2009/01/09/1231004252357.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In January 2012, Barassi suffered a bike accident, cracking three ribs. In September that year, aged 76, he went on to crew a yacht at Hamilton Island Yacht Racing Week with his friend [[John Bertrand (sailor, born 1946)|John Bertrand]]. For his brave defence of the woman on New Year's Eve 2008, Barassi received a bravery award in 2012 and a commendation for brave conduct in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-24 |title=At 80: the life and times of Ron Barassi |url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/334613/at-80-the-life-and-times-of-ron-barassi |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=melbournefc.com.au |language=en}}</ref>

On 16 September 2023, Barassi died following complications from a fall. He was 87.<ref name="theage.com.au"/>

==Cultural impact and legacy==
[[File:Ron barassi statue.jpg|upright|thumb|Statue of Barassi at the Parade of Champions, Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
After retiring from coaching, Barassi remained a prominent Australian rules football celebrity and a figure of popular culture.<ref name="theage.com.au"/>

In 1996, he became an inaugural inductee in the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], one of few former greats to be bestowed the honour of the "Legend" category. He is also one of only three Australian rules footballers in the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]], alongside [[Leigh Matthews]] and [[Ted Whitten]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/legends-of-australian-sport/|title=Legends of Australian Sport|access-date=27 September 2020|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame}}</ref>

Barassi was involved in grassroots football development and was an advocate for the development of the game internationally, particularly in South Africa. Reflecting this, Barassi lent his name to the [[Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament]].<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>

Barassi was a supporter of Australia becoming a [[republicanism in Australia|republic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/sportsf/sstories/sf990813.htm |title=ABC Radio National – The Sports Factor Transcript – August&nbsp;13&nbsp;July 1999 |publisher=www.abc.net.au |access-date=12 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000521075915/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/sportsf/sstories/sf990813.htm |archive-date=21 May 2000 }}</ref>

Barassi was one of the last runners in the [[Queen's Baton Relay]] for the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]], being held in Melbourne, Australia, from 15 to 26 March. His section of the relay, run on 15 March, involved taking the baton from a series of [[Pontoon (boat)|pontoons]] in the middle of the [[Yarra River]] onto shore. It was handed to him by [[David Neitz]], captain of the [[Melbourne Football Club]] (the team with which Barassi was long associated). This was accomplished by having Barassi walk on a pontoon that was submerged just beneath the surface of the water, giving the impression that Barassi was "walking on water".<ref name="Melbourne Football Club"/>

Barassi is the namesake of the [[Barassi Line]], a concept originated by scholar [[Ian Turner (Australian political activist)|Ian Turner]] to describe the geographical divide in Australia between Australian rules football and the two rugby codes. The line is imagined to intersect the border towns of [[Corowa]] and [[Wahgunyah]], where, in 2014, Barassi attended the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Barassi Line.<ref>Marshall, Konrad (26 February 2016). [https://www.smh.com.au/sport/where-do-rugby-codes-end-and-rules-begin-at-the-barassi-line-of-course-20160225-gn3lbe.html "Where do rugby codes' strongholds turn to rules? At the 'Barassi Line', of course... "], ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved 24 January 2022.</ref>

[[File:Ron_Barassi_sculpture_crop.jpg|thumb|Barassi bust unveiled at Guildford in 2016 for his 80th birthday]]

[[Robert Helpmann]]'s 1964 ballet ''[[The Display]]'' includes a lengthy football sequence for which Helpmann recruited Barassi to coach the male dancers in Australian rules.<ref>Lawson, Valerie (18 August 2012). [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/its-show-time-as-the-australian-ballet-prepares-to-stage-robert-helpmanns-the-display/story-fn9n8gph-1226451105096 "It's show time as the Australian Ballet prepares to stage Robert Helpmann's The Display"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061533/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/its-show-time-as-the-australian-ballet-prepares-to-stage-robert-helpmanns-the-display/story-fn9n8gph-1226451105096 |date=4 September 2012 }}, ''[[The Australian]]''. Retrieved 20 October 2012.</ref> Barassi wrote the introduction to [[Philip Hodgins]]' 1990 poetry collection ''A Kick of the Footy''.<ref>[http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poems-book/up-on-all-fours-0597000 "Up on all fours"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233415/http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poems-book/up-on-all-fours-0597000 |date=14 July 2014 }}, Australian Poetry Library. Retrieved 2 July 2014.</ref> The frontman of satirical Melbourne band [[TISM]] went under the pseudonym [[Tism#Members|Ron Hitler-Barassi]]. Barassi disliked the reference, saying "My father was killed by [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s men in Tobruk so you can imagine my displeasure."<ref>Barassi, Ron (13 March 2008). [http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/yoursay/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/ron_barassi_live_blog/desc/P0/ Ron Barassi – Live Blog], ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved on 28 July 2012.</ref> Artist [[Lewis Miller (Australian artist)|Lewis Miller]] won the 2000 "[[List of Archibald Prize winners#2000s|Sporting Archibald]]" for his portrait of Barassi, which was acquired by the [[National Portrait Gallery (Australia)|National Portrait Gallery]] in [[Canberra]]. Barassi has appeared in the [[Specky Magee]] books. In 2015, Barassi collaborated with singer-songwriter [[Tex Perkins]] on the song "One Minute's Silence", a tribute to the [[digger (soldier)|digger]]s who died at [[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli]].<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/legend-barassis-song-salute-to-gallipoli-fallen/story-fni0fit3-1227289812572 "Legend Barassi's song salute to Gallipoli fallen"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924155716/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/legend-barassis-song-salute-to-gallipoli-fallen/news-story/d47ee945f32568c957d84c2a50998c02?nk=45f731f8cffbd2167b3738af5d2c45af-1600963036 |date=24 September 2020 }} (2 April 2015), ''Herald Sun''. Retrieved 3 April 2015.</ref> He was mentioned several times in episodes of the television show ''[[Kingswood Country]]''. He was one of the first footballers to have his own football clinic on television and during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Retrogram picture special: Footy stars who have acted in soaps and sitcoms |first=Warwick |last=Green |date=20 May 2014 |newspaper= Herald Sun |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/retrogram-picture-special-footy-stars-who-have-acted-in-soaps-and-sitcoms/news-story/ff6006a7edced4c52b795c214cd24f13 |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> He also launched his popular "Ron Barassi" footy boots.<ref>{{cite web |title=Child's football boots, Ron Barassi brand  |publisher= Australian Sports Museum |url=https://collection.australiansportsmuseum.org.au/objects/17517/childs-football-boots-ron-barassi-brand |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

In September 2003, a bronze statue depicting Barassi kicking based on a famous photograph was unveiled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.<ref>[https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/32454-ron-barassi Ron Barassi Monument Melbourne Cricket Ground from Monument Australia</ref><ref>[https://www.mcg.org.au/things-to-do/sporting-statues/ron-barassi MCG Sporting Statues Ron Barassi]</ref> 

After the second week of the [[2006 AFL finals series|2006 AFL Finals]], with the four remaining teams all being non-Victorian, and with Victorians reeling from their recent weakness, Barassi controversially called for an inquiry to unearth the reason Victoria was trailing in the AFL despite the state giving birth to the national competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20426265-661,00.html |title=Barassi: It's not good for football &#124; Herald Sun |publisher=News.com.au |date=17 September 2006 |access-date=12 March 2011 |archive-date=29 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429093047/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20426265-661,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In late 2006, he became a Sport Australia Hall of Fame member.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20560352-11088,00.html |title=Ron Barassi the Great &#124; Herald Sun |publisher=News.com.au |date=11 October 2006 |access-date=12 March 2011 |archive-date=5 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705133451/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20560352-11088,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The best player in the Under-17 International Rules Series is awarded the Ron Barassi Medal.<ref name="Melbournian of the Year">{{cite web |title= 2006 Melburnian of the Year  |publisher= City of Melbourne  |url=https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-melbourne/celebrating-melbourne/melbourne-awards/all-winners/Pages/2006-melburnian-barassi.aspx |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref>

Barassi was the subject of a series 2 episode of ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (Australian TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Do You Think You Are?|publisher=SBS|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/videos/page/i/1/show/whodoyouthinkyouare|access-date=28 September 2010|archive-date=22 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922095047/http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/videos/page/i/1/show/whodoyouthinkyouare|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, Australian playwright Tee O'Neill adapted Barassi's life into a [[Barassi (play)|theatrical performance]].<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Tee|title=About the Play|url=http://barassi.net.au/about-the-play/|work=Barassi – the stage show|publisher=Jager Productions|access-date=14 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226114325/http://barassi.net.au/about-the-play/|archive-date=26 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The play script was published by [[Currency Press]].<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Tee|title=Barassi|url=http://www.currency.com.au/product_detail.aspx?productid=2575&ReturnUrl=/plays-general.aspx|publisher=Currency Press|access-date=14 December 2012|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915120331/http://www.currency.com.au/product_detail.aspx?productid=2575&ReturnUrl=%2Fplays-general.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

A bronze bust of Barassi was unveiled in his hometown of Guildford to celebrate his 80th birthday on 27 February 2016 .<ref>[https://www.hepburnadvocate.com.au/story/3770971/barassi-in-the-bronze/ Barassi in the bronze] By Amber Wilson for the Hepburn Advocate March 5 2016</ref><ref>[https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/108111-ron-barassi Ron Barassi Monument Guildford] from Monument Australia</ref>

==Honours and awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg|50px]] || [[Member of the Order of Australia]] (AM) || [[1978 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia)|6 June 1978]], "in recognition of service to the sport of Australian Rules football".<ref>{{cite web | title=Australian Government Gazette – Special | url=http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/QB78.pdf | publisher=Government House of The Commonwealth of Australia | access-date=29 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052947/http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/QB78.pdf | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=AM>{{cite web |title= Ronald Barassi AM |url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/886324 |publisher= [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]], Australian Government |work= It's an Honour |date= 6 June 1968 |access-date= 6 January 2012 |archive-date= 22 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190222042235/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/886324 |url-status= live }}</ref> 
|-
|[[File:Commendation for Brave Conduct (Australia) ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Commendation for Brave Conduct]] || [[Bravery Meeting 78 (Australia)|25 March 2013 – Bravery Honours]]<ref name=CBC>{{cite web |title= Ronald Dale Barassi |url= https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1147533 |publisher= [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]], Australian Government |work= It's an Honour |date= 25 March 2013 |access-date= 10 September 2013 |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054407/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1147533&search_type=simple&showInd=true |url-status= live }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:400px ribbon bar of Australian Sports Medal.svg|50px]] || [[Australian Sports Medal]] || 24 October 2000<ref name=CSC>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/967313 Conspicuous Service Cross] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004140211/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=967313&search_type=quick&showInd=true |date=4 October 2012 }}, 1997</ref>
|}

==Publications==
* [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34955295?selectedversion=NBD42388130 ''Ron Barassi: Chronicling His Football Career Using His Scrapbooks and Memorabilia'' (2008)]. {{ISBN|9780980301564}}. {{OCLC|246200694}}. Icons of Australian Sport series.
* [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38110301 ''Barassi: The Biography'' (2010)]. {{ISBN|9781741752120}}. {{OCLC|670391075}}.
* [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/157277575 ''Wisdom: Life Lessons from an Australian Legend'' (2011)]. {{ISBN|9781742378756}}. {{OCLC|755942966}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|b=no|q=Ron Barassi|s=no|commons=Category:Ron Barassi|n=no|v=no|species=no}}
* {{AFL Tables}}
* {{AFL Tables coach ID}}
* {{AustralianFootball}}
* {{Sport Australia Hall of Fame|ron-barassi}}
* [http://www.ronbarassi.com.au Ron Barassi's Personal Website]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/profiles/Transcripts/s1069371.htm Interview] – An interview conducted by [[George Negus]] for the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]-TV programme ''[[George Negus Tonight]]''
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040622084505/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=halloffame&spg=legends |title=AFL legends page |date=dmy}}

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{{Australian Football Hall of Fame Legends}}
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{{1959 Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1960 Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1964 Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1968 Carlton premiership players}}
{{1970 Carlton premiership players}}
{{1975 North Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1977 North Melbourne premiership players}}
{{Melbourne Football Club captains}}
{{Carlton Football Club captains}}
{{Melbourne Football Club coaches}}
{{Carlton Football Club coaches}}
{{North Melbourne Football Club coaches}}
{{Sydney Swans coaches}}
{{AFL Team of the Century}}
{{AFL Italian Team of the Century}}
{{Melbourne Football Club Team of the Century}}
{{Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winners}}
{{VFL/AFL club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}
{{Melbourne leading goalkickers}}
{{Jock McHale Medal}}
{{All-Australian captains}}
{{1956 All-Australian team}}
{{1958 All-Australian team}}
{{1961 All-Australian team}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barassi, Ron}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Castlemaine, Victoria]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Swiss-Italian descent]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club players]]
[[Category:Carlton Football Club players]]
[[Category:Port Melbourne Football Club players]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club captains]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club coaches]]
[[Category:Carlton Football Club coaches]]
[[Category:Carlton Football Club premiership coaches]]
[[Category:North Melbourne Football Club coaches]]
[[Category:North Melbourne Football Club premiership coaches]]
[[Category:Sydney Swans coaches]]
[[Category:All-Australians (1953–1988)]]
[[Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Australian republicans]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL premiership players]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL premiership coaches]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club premiership players]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]