N football terms, it’s been called the equivalent of the “Big Bang Theory”, that one seismic moment that changed everything.

A game that had been essentially that — a game — for more than 100 years was almost turned on its axis once and forevermore in the stifling summer of 1964-65, and the aftershocks are still being felt today.

Back then, players rarely changed clubs. If they were discarded, they might try their fortunes elsewhere.

But if they were stars, they remained in the same constellation, and kids who put their heroes’ numbers on the backs of their woollen jumpers were content in the knowledge that they didn’t need their mums to unstitch them at any stage.

Ron Barassi changed that, and 50 years on from the biggest transfer shock in the history of Australian Football, he maintains that he made the right decision.

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The Sunday Herald Sun took Barassi back to Visy Park (it was Princes Park back then) to mark a half century since his dramatic shift from Melbourne player to Carlton captain-coach.

The first rumbles came just a few months after Barassi had led Melbourne to its 12th flag in 1964. Then the shock of Barassi declaring a few days before Christmas that he had decided to take up Carlton’s offer was followed by almost two months of delays as Melbourne refused to release him.

In the end, a quick-fire phone call on February 16, 1965 — 50 years ago tomorrow — finalised the biggest player switch in the game’s history, and a clear reference point for all that was to come.

Funny thing,as a kid growing up we were very ordinary just as we are now.Barely middle of the road plodders making no inroads whatsoever.I thought we were hopeless and would never come good.But then came along a bloke by the name of George Harris.George for mine is the father of the modern day Carlton.............by any means possible he was the bloke was going to get of the doldrums which he did with spectacular success.

Moral to all you young'uns who seem to think we are gonna be crap forever is to never give up no matter what.It just aint the Carlton way.

Really loved the article myself.

Agree re George Harris Mick - he was the catalyst off the field & Ron got them going on the field

Funny thing,as a kid growing up we were very ordinary just as we are now.Barely middle of the road plodders making no inroads whatsoever.I thought we were hopeless and would never come good.But then came along a bloke by the name of George Harris.George for mine is the father of the modern day Carlton.............by any means possible he was the bloke was going to get of the doldrums which he did with spectacular success.

Moral to all you young'uns who seem to think we are gonna be crap forever is to never give up no matter what.It just aint the Carlton way.

Really loved the article myself.