RON BARASSI is known as a brilliant motivator, a man who made things happen. A man of passion, aggression and strength, he is undaunted and unfazed.
But on Monday morning one got the sense that Barassi was a touch overwhelmed. It was the first time he had set foot in the Australian Football Hall of Fame at the MCG, which opens to the public on Tuesday.
Barassi, a National Sports Museum ambassador, made finishing touches to the Legends exhibition by installing Alex Jesaulenko’s guernsey from the Galahs’ 1978 tour of Ireland. The green and gold jumper took its place alongside the famous number 25 Carlton jumper, and the wrinkled Sherrin with which Jesa kicked his 100th goal of the season for the Blues in 1970.
The exhibition honours the 219 Hall of Fame inductees and 22 Legends, displaying items of memorabilia from the likes of Peter Hudson, Roy Cazaly, Gordon Coventry, Jack Dyer, Norm Smith, Bob Skilton, Leigh Matthews, and others including the immortal player and coach, Barassi.
“It’s a very personal thing,” he said of the Legends room, a dark, contemplative space compared to the bright entrance featuring wall-to-wall photos of inductees from the game’s players, coaches, administrators and media.
“I’d be reflective because I see a lot of old friends here, I see a lot of stuff I was involved with, the kind of things where we have a lot of pain – as in we lost, and all that sort of stuff – so I’d be going through the whole gamut of those emotions.
“But for others I think there’d be a lot of pleasure here and a lot of things they could learn.”
Barassi said the exhibition, which includes touch screens featuring inductee information, was a pleasurable way to take in some of the history of Australia’s indigenous game.
“Unless you know your history, where you came from, why certain things happen, well I don’t think you’re a complete person,” he said.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the museum set the game up for future generations.
“It’s events like today and the Australian Football 150 Years celebrations throughout this year that provide an opportunity to stop and reflect on the importance of the past in shaping the future of our game,” Demetriou said.
“[They provide a chance] to reflect on the rich characters and memorable events that provide the foundations upon which our passion and love of our game is built.”
Demetriou said the Australian Football Hall of Fame was rightfully located at the MCG, the spiritual home of football.
“To have a permanent home, a wonderful, respectful and inspirational tribute for those people inducted in the Australian Football Hall of Fame is a significant event in our history,” he said.
“I’m extremely proud that the Australian Football Hall of Fame as part of the National Sports Museum is such a fitting tribute to all the inductees of the Hall of Fame.”
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Round 19 is Tom Wills Round, celebrating 150 years of Australian Football. One of the inventors of the sport, Wills played in the first recorded game and umpired one of the earliest matches between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School on August 7, 1858.
Click here for more Tom Wills Round coverage.
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