Jump to content

Hassa Mann Turns 80

Dee-Nee
Dee-Nee
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

A fellow long time Demon supporter told me Hassa turned 80 on Wednesday. 

What a great player he was! Premiership player, club captain, state representative, member of The Galahs and MFC team of the century.

Then, later in his career, after success as a playing coach in the West he returned to the club in administration.

As an aside, why did our players go to WA? Big Bob Johnson and dashing half back also left us with plenty of games left in them, as did Hassa. Were we so arrogant in those days we'd say "we don't need you, we'll win without you?"

Does anyone remember Hassa's goal from the boundary at Glenferrie Oval to put Hawthorn out of the 4? A Hawthorn mate still claims it was a point!

Many happy returns Hassa!

  • Quote
    • Like 12
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1
     

    Good post  Dee-Nee. What a great player. Could play  centre, half forward or as a  rover-great captain. Yes I remember that goal-did he actually mark that ball? I seem to remember it was a line ball decision and the umpire might not have  had a  good view? It was  great kick though.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1

    One of my all-time favourite players!  Seems like yesterday he was in the team!

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 3
     

    Hassa mann was a great player watched him   play  in the 60s  and always looked to kick a goal even playing in the midfield or on  sometimes half forward. He had a knack to link in a play starting back of centre and finding himself  at the end of the chain lining up for a set shot at goals. He did that several time in his career it was amazing.

    IMO and many others his career was cut short at the end of 1968 after Captaining the club for 2 seasons and moved to South Fremantle in 1969 at the age of  28,

    He was a Best and fairest in his first year 1969 and also Captain coached them to a premiership in 1970.

    Such tragedy when we needed him most.    . Fond memories of him playing..

                                                              Happy  Birthday   Hassa    

    Edited by nosoupforme

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    I heard a bit of the interview on SEN to commemorate his 80th.  The part I heard was about our tumultuous history.  Hassa was there at the time of the big 3 upheavals:  when Barassi left, was Captain when Smith was sacked (emotional story about that) and CEO at the time of the merger proposal.  Can't find it on the sen website.  The few minutes I heard were great to listen to.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    By gee, that makes me ancient!  As others have said, he was an outstanding player of his era, and an 'all time' great Demon.  I worked with Hass for a short time after he retired from the game.  Not only a great player but a fantastic person with just one small fault.  He had the most 'finger crushing' hand shake I've ever experienced.  Happy memories, happy birthday Hassa! 

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Here is an artical on Hassa Mann .

    Note that the reasons why he left is explained. 

    There is also a link that l have provided of the full article as well.    Great reading.

     

    Mann’s performance at Subiaco when the Big V won by nine points not only won him a nipple-pink coloured transistor radio, but the attention of both Fremantle clubs, who sounded him out as a prospective playing coach.

    “I had no intention of moving from Melbourne Football Club, let alone across the country,” Hassa said. But when the two clubs pooled together to offer him and wife Glenys a trip to Perth he thought: “why not?” “We flew over with the aim of enjoying ourselves for a week or so; it was an opportunity too good to refuse.” Mann spent a few days as guest of East Fremantle, then South.

    “I went back to Melbourne and advised the club that I’d been offered a coaching position in the West, told them I’d prefer to stay, and asked for a two year contract,” he recalled. “The Chairman of Selectors replied that he didn’t reckon I had two years left in me.”

    At twenty eight years of age, the three time club fairest and best winner, most recent being 1967, current All Australian, and club captain, was justifiably upset by his rating at the Demons, and decided to accept South Fremantle’s offer.

    https://ozfooty.net/newsarticles/pastnpresent/55-where-are-they-now-hassa-mann

    Edited by nosoupforme

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2
    • Angry 1
    1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    I heard a bit of the interview on SEN to commemorate his 80th.  The part I heard was about our tumultuous history.  Hassa was there at the time of the big 3 upheavals:  when Barassi left, was Captain when Smith was sacked (emotional story about that) and CEO at the time of the merger proposal.  Can't find it on the sen website.  The few minutes I heard were great to listen to.

    Here is the segment with Hassa Mann.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 3
     
    3 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

    Here is an artical on Hassa Mann .

    Note that the reasons why he left is explained. 

    There is also a link that l have provided of the full article as well.    Great reading.

     

    Mann’s performance at Subiaco when the Big V won by nine points not only won him a nipple-pink coloured transistor radio, but the attention of both Fremantle clubs, who sounded him out as a prospective playing coach.

    “I had no intention of moving from Melbourne Football Club, let alone across the country,” Hassa said. But when the two clubs pooled together to offer him and wife Glenys a trip to Perth he thought: “why not?” “We flew over with the aim of enjoying ourselves for a week or so; it was an opportunity too good to refuse.” Mann spent a few days as guest of East Fremantle, then South.

    “I went back to Melbourne and advised the club that I’d been offered a coaching position in the West, told them I’d prefer to stay, and asked for a two year contract,” he recalled. “The Chairman of Selectors replied that he didn’t reckon I had two years left in me.”

    At twenty eight years of age, the three time club fairest and best winner, most recent being 1967, current All Australian, and club captain, was justifiably upset by his rating at the Demons, and decided to accept South Fremantle’s offer.

    https://ozfooty.net/newsarticles/pastnpresent/55-where-are-they-now-hassa-mann

    Dreadful decision by the Club to let him go.  So many of our better players from the mid sixties to mid seventies were let go or left for greener pastures - Dillon, Parke, Brewer, Kenneally, Callery, Groom, Keenan, Fitzsimmons, Thorne

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Hassa is my uncle. Hard to believe he is 80. The guy is as fit as they come. He’d probably run rings around me 30 years his junior. 
     

    Whatever his reasons for going to WA, he is Melbourne through and through. He loves the club as much as any football tragic.

    Happy birthday uncle Hass

  • Quote
    • Like 11
    • Love 1

    I remember that goal. We lost the next week to Footscray (I think). We went on to win the premiership through Crompton's goal. If it weren't for Hassa's goal, we'd have missed the finals altogether. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 1

    Great watching the footage of that game

    It seems that when we mention the great players of that team

    John Townsend seems to get forgotten 
    He was such a talented brave rover

    I remember John Nichols shirtfronting him at the MCG

    How he got up after that I don’t know

     

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 1
    26 minutes ago, Old Bear said:

    Great watching the footage of that game

    It seems that when we mention the great players of that team

    John Townsend seems to get forgotten 
    He was such a talented brave rover

    I remember John Nichols shirtfronting him at the MCG

    How he got up after that I don’t know

     

    Yes John Townsend N0 16. Great rover and goal kicker. Same he hurt his knoee on t at overseas trip. A great roving combination with Ken Emselle. No 10. I think I also remember Hassa getting shirtfronted at the old South Melbourne Lakeside  oval.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    I was right behind the posts and it was an absolute goal.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    I was watching from the fence near the half-forward flank right behind him. Unfortunately I'd run out of torn-up telephone directories to toss in the air when Hassa goaled. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Can anyone else remember another time when Hassa got us into the finals. If my memory serves me correctly it was at The MCG and he took a diving mark and kicked a goal that got us into the finals?

     

     

  • Quote

    I remember him coaching Caulfield in the VFA days following T. Jewell., P Guinane & S Trott as his coaching predecessors.

     

  • Quote
    On 10/10/2020 at 3:49 PM, Vagg said:

    One of my all-time favourite players!  Seems like yesterday he was in the team!

    Startling to realise, Vagg, that we have been supporting the Dees for so long - and Hassa was a fantastic player, he held a special place in so many of our teams - the good teams and the weaker teams. It does not seem like he retired as a player so long ago - such was his contribution to the MFC, eternally stamped in our minds. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    On 10/11/2020 at 6:13 AM, Uncle Fester said:

    Hassa is my uncle. Hard to believe he is 80. The guy is as fit as they come. He’d probably run rings around me 30 years his junior. 
     

    Whatever his reasons for going to WA, he is Melbourne through and through. He loves the club as much as any football tragic.

    Happy birthday uncle Hass

    I briefly met your Uncle Hassa at the Bentleigh club when the premiership players had their 50th anniversary celebration.  He stayed till every one who wanted a chat and an autograph had seen him.  I thought he was delightful and nothing like the 74 year old he would have been at the time.  I look forward to listening the whole sen interview.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    On 10/12/2020 at 9:33 AM, Old Bear said:

    Great watching the footage of that game

    It seems that when we mention the great players of that team

    John Townsend seems to get forgotten 
    He was such a talented brave rover

    I remember John Nichols shirtfronting him at the MCG

    How he got up after that I don’t know

     

    My first jumper with his number 16  and  wore it  proudly. He was my favourite at the time.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Was one of my faves as a kid.

    I had a Hassa Mann signed 45 rpm Single record of the grand ole flag which was released by Ampol service stations in the 60s

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    What a legend of this football club! If only we had more who bled red and blue like Hassa! 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    On 10/11/2020 at 6:13 AM, Uncle Fester said:

    Hassa is my uncle. Hard to believe he is 80. The guy is as fit as they come. He’d probably run rings around me 30 years his junior. 
     

    Whatever his reasons for going to WA, he is Melbourne through and through. He loves the club as much as any football tragic.

    Happy birthday uncle Hass

    So, if you're Uncle Fester, that makes him Great Uncle Hassa. Is that right?

    On point, it's amazing how our club's inability to move with the times from the mid-60s through to the mid-80s caused so much damage.  

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: Round 10

      The Sir Doug Nicholls Round kicks off in Darwin with a Top 4 clash between the Suns and the Hawks. On Friday night the Swans will be seeking to rebound from a challenging start to the season, while the Blues have the Top 8 in their sights after their sluggish start. Saturdays matches kick off with a blockbuster between the Collingwood and Kuwarna with the Magpies looking to maintain their strong form and the Crows aiming to make a statement on the road. The Power face a difficult task to revive their season against a resilient Cats side looking to make amends for their narrow loss last week. The Giants aim to reinforce their top-eight status, while the Dockers will be looking to break the travel hoodoo. The sole Saturday game is a critical matchup for both teams, as the Bulldogs strive to cemet their spot in the top six and the Bombers desperately want break into the 8. Sundays start with a bottom 3 clash between the Tigers and Kangaroos with both teams wanting to avoid the being in wooden spoon contention. The Round concludes with the Eagles still searching for their first win of the season, while the Saints look to keep their finals hopes alive with a crucial away victory. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Thanks
      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Brisbane

      And just like that, we’re Narrm again. Even though the annual AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round which commemorates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to our game has been a welcome addition to our calendar for ten years, more lately it has been a portent of tough times ahead for we beleaguered Narrm supporters. Ever since the club broke through for its historic 2021 premiership, this has become a troubling time of the year for the club. For example, it all began when Melbourne rebranded itself as Narrm across the two rounds of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to become the first club to adopt an Indigenous club name especially for the occasion. It won its first outing under the brand against lowly North Melbourne to go to 10 wins and no losses but not without a struggle or a major injury to  star winger Ed Langdon who broke his ribs and missed several weeks. In the following week, still as Narrm, the team’s 17 game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Dockers. That came along with more injuries, a plague that remained with them for the remainder of the season until, beset by injuries, the Dees were eliminated from the finals in straight sets. It was even worse last year, when Narrm inexplicably lowered its colours in Perth to the Waalit Marawar Eagles. Oh, the shame of it all! At least this year, if there is a corner to turn around, it has to be in the direction of something better. To that end, I produced a special pre-game chant in the local Narrm language - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb” which roughly translated is “every heart beats true for the red and the blue.” >y belief is that if all of the Narrm faithful recite it long enough, then it might prove to be the only way to beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw at Marvel Stadium against a North Melbourne team that lacks the ability and know how to win games (except when playing Melbourne). Brisbane are, however, a different kettle of fish at home and have very few positional weaknesses. They are a midfield powerhouse, strong in defence and have plenty of forward options, particularly their small and medium sized players, to kick a winning score this week after the sting of last week’s below par performance.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 9 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Hawthorn

      There was a time during the current Melbourne cycle that goes back to before the premiership when the club was the toughest to beat in the fourth quarter. The Demons were not only hard to beat at any time but it was virtually impossible to get the better them when scores were close at three quarter time. It was only three or four years ago but they were fit, strong and resilient in body and mind. Sadly, those days are over. This has been the case since the club fell off its pedestal about 12 months ago after it beat Geelong and then lost to Carlton. In both instances, Melbourne put together strong, stirring final quarters, one that resulted in victory, the other, in defeat. Since then, the drop off has been dramatic to the point where it can neither pull off victory in close matches, nor can it even go down in defeat  gallantly.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Footscray

      At twenty-four minutes into the third term of the game between the Casey Demons and Footscray VFL at Whitten Oval, the visitors were coasting. They were winning all over the ground, had the ascendancy in the ruck battles and held a 26 point lead on a day perfect for football. What could go wrong? Everything. The Bulldogs moved into overdrive in the last five minutes of the term and booted three straight goals to reduce the margin to a highly retrievable eight points at the last break. Bouyed by that effort, their confidence was on a high level during the interval and they ran all over the despondent Demons and kicked another five goals to lead by a comfortable margin of four goals deep into the final term before Paddy Cross kicked a couple of too late goals for a despondent Casey. A testament to their lack of pressure in the latter stages of the game was the fact that Footscray’s last ten scoring shots were nine goals and one rushed behind. Things might have been different for the Demons who went into the game after last week’s bye with 12 AFL listed players. Blake Howes was held over for the AFL game but two others, Jack Billings and Taj Woewodin (not officially listed as injured) were also missing and they could have been handy at the end. Another mystery of the current VFL system.

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Brisbane

      The Demons head back out on the road in Round 10 when they travel to Queensland to take on the reigning Premiers and the top of the table Lions who look very formidable. Can the Dees cause a massive upset? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 188 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Hawthorn

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Demons loss to the Hawks. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All