Dare to dream, says Dees legend
MELBOURNE legend Ron Barassi has urged this year’s premiership Demons to dare to dream of back-to-back success next season.
An emotional Barassi, 85, got up close and personal with the newly-inscribed 2021 AFL premiership cup as Melbourne revealed its intentions to take the long-awaited piece of silverware on the road and to its fans when Covid restrictions begin to ease.
The Herald Sun was there when the Melbourne Football Club showed off the cup to Barassi - a six-time premiership player in red and blue - as he lavished praise on the modern-day Demons, including
skipper Max Gawn and coach Simon Goodwin.
“Melbourne won a mighty, mighty, mighty flag; they are hard things to win, so well done, we love you,” Barassi said in a message to the club’s 2021 premiership heroes. “That was a well earned, fantastic win.
“There is no reason why there shouldn’t be more to come.
“The Melbourne players and their supporters should be very happy. Give us a couple of weeks (of celebrating) and let’s get ready for next year.”
Asked if the Demons are capable of winning back-toback flags after a previous drought stretching back 57
years, the footy great said: “Absolutely they can, why not!”
Barassi watched this year’s grand final with his family in a locked down Melbourne, but couldn’t have been happier to see Gawn and Goodwin hold the premiership cup aloft after a 74-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at Perth Stadium last month.
“It means a lot to me,” he said. “It means something special (to all Melbourne supporters).”
“My father (Ron Sr.) played for Melbourne; I played with Melbourne. It was beautiful to be a part of and it is great to see Melbourne successful again.”
He lifted the Demons’ 13th
premiership cup aloft for this special photo opportunity just as he did that day when the club won their previous last flag in 1964.
“At the time (in 1964) my mind was telling me ‘I mustn’t let this thing (the cup) fall … (because) it is heavy,” he said as he lifted the 2021 version up with both hands. “I don’t know how I used to do it with one hand.”
Barassi won six flags as a player with the Demons in 1955, ‘56, ‘57,’59, ‘60 and ‘64 before going on to win four flags as a coach with Carlton and North Melbourne.
Some leading football voices have argued Barassi’s link to the premiership cup as a player and coach means it
should be named after him.
Barassi said of Gawn’s leadership this season: “Congrats Max, you must be feeling so good. All the players, all your teammates would be feeling good.”
“It is what we aim for and you were in charge of what happened.”
He said his former coach, the legendary Norm Smith, had such a close connection with his playing group which was not dissimilar to the relationship Goodwin has with his players.
“Simon, it is a fantastic thing, winning a premiership as the coach,” he said. “It is a fantastic thing to do, and I am sure you are a very happy man right now.”