http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/time-h ... 6771649854Quote:
Time has passed but Ron Barassi's aura has not as former players reflect on his influence
IT'S been 45 years since Ron Barassi emerged as possibly the greatest of all footy coaches, leading Carlton to the 1968 premiership.
But time has not dimmed his status with the players he inspired to that historic triumph, the first flag the Blues had won for 21 years - and a major step forward in the club's progress to the point where it now shares the record of 16 with arch rivals Essendon*.
In fact, it has probably increased it.
Barassi was welcomed with great warmth to a reunion of the first of the four premiership sides he coached - two with Carlton, two with North Melbourne - which was held at a most appropriate venue, ruckman Percy Jones's Lygon St pub.
Ian Collins, Robert Walls, Barry Gill, Ian Robertson, Billy Bennett, Bryan Quirk, Denis Munari, Serge Silvagni, Adrian Gallagher and Neil Chandler were there, while John Nicholls, Alex Jesaulenko, Kevin Hall, Brett Crosswell and John Goold were among the apologies. It is an honour roll any club would gladly call its own.
Also there were Geoff Southby, another legend of later premierships, and Ted Hopkins, who was part of the even more famous 1970 flag, which is generally recognised as Barassi's finest moment.
Good read
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