Vale Ronald Dale Barassi - Rest in Peace

[58er 4,709]

After the last few sad days of RDB passing and the last week from Thursday back to now a real chance of a surprise flag to some had also moved on due to the Angus incident and our follow up self inflicted butchering to allow Carlton one more match in their dream run. 

As a kid in 1958 my best mate at Cheltenham State School (we lived round the corner in Cheltenham from each other) had lured my family through me who wore as a kid No 31 on my back. We lost the flag that year and listened on radio and had fun as kids with RDB's name.

Luckily in 1960 we were able to see the last quarter of the GF at my grandparents with the ground being a mud heap due to constant rain but we held the Pies to 2 goals and win by 28 points for our 11th Flag.

We had started in 1959 and Dad took me in Round2 to the G we beat the Pies in a replay snd after started as a family to go to home matches sitting in the Southern Stand ( mostly opposition fans) nearest the front row on the high level and saw the Demons ( never called Dees in those days). 

Of course we kept winning in 62 snd 63  and saw the 63 Semi win and Prelim failure all without RDB courtesy of Roger Dean and a dubious VFL Tribunal result. With another school mate ( Tiger fan) now at High School I saw that game at Punt Rd. Too far from scene to know if any evidence was truthful or not but as no TV allowed in decision it was a word vs another word. 

In 64 we saluted thankfully Froggy Crompton rescued us and we celebrated that night watching the replay at my Demon mates house after the game. Flag No 12. Very pleased with our Footy side 3 years and 2 Flags!! We had no idea of the next 59 years. !!!!!

We had at some stage ( Sorry my sister I believe!!) conned Dad with Mum to drive to Heathmont to see the champ RDB's home! No doubt hoping to get a glance of him. No such luck.

Then the killer blow when He went to Carlton but I still wore the 31 on my back!!  Tears etc but still loved the Demons. 

Wilderness followed for many years and 87 and 98 plus 2002 aside with the Reverend and Barass was still in the news at times with Coaching and still winning. Came back in 81-85 and helped set up Swooper ( John Northey) and that magical 87 Ginals series ending agsin in tears.Still no flag. Despite 88 and 2000 teases and more tears.

Until '21 and our immortals beat Covid lockdowns and as i had moved to Brisbane in 1993. Great decision making in hindsight saw the bang bang bang etc. after 2 weeks isolation in SA courtesy my SA cousins. RDB saw that Cup so did I snd pride snd emotion  followed. Was always grest on  the TV with RDB at Dees games in recent years. Sad he wasn't able to be at  MCG when we celebrated in Dec. 

Ironic he passed around the greatest Melb/ Carlton rivalry game since the 2000 Semi Final snd a recent best 20 runs fit the Club this century. 

Will no doubt meet up with the great  msn upstairs in the future hopefully after another 1/2 Flags and dynasty we still can achieve if the tight decisions are made in the upcoming off season. 

A long journey but RBD there all the way with the Demons.

During this I  have  just balled my eyes out with the  emotion snd sadness but thankful for the great footy journey he started me on. Highs snd Lows but let's look forward  to  2024 and a new year for the Dees. 

Go Dees 

[58er 4,709]

4 minutes ago, 58er said:

After the last few sad days of RDB passing and the last week from Thursday back to now a real chance of a surprise flag to some had also moved on due to the Angus incident and our follow up self inflicted butchering to allow Carlton one more match in their dream run. 

As a kid in 1958 my best mate at Cheltenham State School (we lived round the corner in Cheltenham from each other) had lured my family through me who wore as a kid No 31 on my back. We lost the flag that year and listened on radio and had fun as kids with RDB's name.

Luckily in 1960 we were able to see the last quarter of the GF at my grandparents with the ground being a mud heap due to constant rain but we held the Pies to 2 goals and win by 28 points for our 11th Flag.

We had started in 1959 and Dad took me in Round2 to the G we beat the Pies in a replay snd after started as a family to go to home matches sitting in the Southern Stand ( mostly opposition fans) nearest the front row on the high level and saw the Demons ( never called Dees in those days). 

Of course we kept winning in 62 snd 63  and saw the 63 Semi win and Prelim failure all without RDB courtesy of Roger Dean and a dubious VFL Tribunal result. With another school mate ( Tiger fan) now at High School I saw that game at Punt Rd. Too far from scene to know if any evidence was truthful or not but as no TV allowed in decision it was a word vs another word. 

In 64 we saluted thankfully Froggy Crompton rescued us and we celebrated that night watching the replay at my Demon mates house after the game. Flag No 12. Very pleased with our Footy side 3 years and 2 Flags!! We had no idea of the next 59 years. !!!!!

We had at some stage ( Sorry my sister I believe!!) conned Dad with Mum to drive to Heathmont to see the champ RDB's home! No doubt hoping to get a glance of him. No such luck.

Then the killer blow when He went to Carlton but I still wore the 31 on my back!!  Tears etc but still loved the Demons. 

Wilderness followed for many years and 87 and 98 plus 2002 aside with the Reverend and Barass was still in the news at times with Coaching and still winning. Came back in 81-85 and helped set up Swooper ( John Northey) and that magical 87 Ginals series ending agsin in tears.Still no flag. Despite 88 and 2000 teases and more tears.

Until '21 and our immortals beat Covid lockdowns and as i had moved to Brisbane in 1993. Great decision making in hindsight saw the bang bang bang etc. after 2 weeks isolation in SA courtesy my SA cousins. RDB saw that Cup so did I snd pride snd emotion  followed. Was always grest on  the TV with RDB at Dees games in recent years. Sad he wasn't able to be at  MCG when we celebrated in Dec. 

Ironic he passed around the greatest Melb/ Carlton rivalry game since the 2000 Semi Final snd a recent best 20 runs fit the Club this century. 

Will no doubt meet up with the great  msn upstairs in the future hopefully after another 1/2 Flags and dynasty we still can achieve if the tight decisions are made in the upcoming off season. 

A long journey but RBD there all the way with the Demons.

During this I  have  just balled my eyes out with the  emotion snd sadness but thankful for the great footy journey he started me on. Highs snd Lows but let's look forward  to  2024 and a new year for the Dees. 

Go Dees 

R.I.P Ronald Dale

[Lucifers Hero 36,200]

On 9/17/2023 at 9:32 PM, tiers said:

Me too for both. But my autograph included "31".
 

As a few other posters have mentioned of late it was 17410.  A theme picked up in this excellent article: the-enormous-numbers-that-show-why-barassi-belongs-on-footy-s-mount-rushmore.

"...Anyone who scored Ron Barassi’s prized signature would remember the accompanying number beneath it – 17410..."

So it is interesting that he used 31 as well as 17410 that day.  Maybe the 31 is now the better souvenir!

Edited September 19 by Lucifers Hero

[Demons3031 355]

27 minutes ago, 58er said:

After the last few sad days of RDB passing and the last week from Thursday back to now a real chance of a surprise flag to some had also moved on due to the Angus incident and our follow up self inflicted butchering to allow Carlton one more match in their dream run. 

As a kid in 1958 my best mate at Cheltenham State School (we lived round the corner in Cheltenham from each other) had lured my family through me who wore as a kid No 31 on my back. We lost the flag that year and listened on radio and had fun as kids with RDB's name.

Luckily in 1960 we were able to see the last quarter of the GF at my grandparents with the ground being a mud heap due to constant rain but we held the Pies to 2 goals and win by 28 points for our 11th Flag.

We had started in 1959 and Dad took me in Round2 to the G we beat the Pies in a replay snd after started as a family to go to home matches sitting in the Southern Stand ( mostly opposition fans) nearest the front row on the high level and saw the Demons ( never called Dees in those days). 

Of course we kept winning in 62 snd 63  and saw the 63 Semi win and Prelim failure all without RDB courtesy of Roger Dean and a dubious VFL Tribunal result. With another school mate ( Tiger fan) now at High School I saw that game at Punt Rd. Too far from scene to know if any evidence was truthful or not but as no TV allowed in decision it was a word vs another word. 

In 64 we saluted thankfully Froggy Crompton rescued us and we celebrated that night watching the replay at my Demon mates house after the game. Flag No 12. Very pleased with our Footy side 3 years and 2 Flags!! We had no idea of the next 59 years. !!!!!

We had at some stage ( Sorry my sister I believe!!) conned Dad with Mum to drive to Heathmont to see the champ RDB's home! No doubt hoping to get a glance of him. No such luck.

Then the killer blow when He went to Carlton but I still wore the 31 on my back!!  Tears etc but still loved the Demons. 

Wilderness followed for many years and 87 and 98 plus 2002 aside with the Reverend and Barass was still in the news at times with Coaching and still winning. Came back in 81-85 and helped set up Swooper ( John Northey) and that magical 87 Ginals series ending agsin in tears.Still no flag. Despite 88 and 2000 teases and more tears.

Until '21 and our immortals beat Covid lockdowns and as i had moved to Brisbane in 1993. Great decision making in hindsight saw the bang bang bang etc. after 2 weeks isolation in SA courtesy my SA cousins. RDB saw that Cup so did I snd pride snd emotion  followed. Was always grest on  the TV with RDB at Dees games in recent years. Sad he wasn't able to be at  MCG when we celebrated in Dec. 

Ironic he passed around the greatest Melb/ Carlton rivalry game since the 2000 Semi Final snd a recent best 20 runs fit the Club this century. 

Will no doubt meet up with the great  msn upstairs in the future hopefully after another 1/2 Flags and dynasty we still can achieve if the tight decisions are made in the upcoming off season. 

A long journey but RBD there all the way with the Demons.

During this I  have  just balled my eyes out with the  emotion snd sadness but thankful for the great footy journey he started me on. Highs snd Lows but let's look forward  to  2024 and a new year for the Dees. 

Go Dees 

Great post 58 er. Similar memories here as I was born in 1950.

Dad used to take us to the MCG to the old Bay 13 in those days-on the wing. Lolly boys, others selling "Here's your hot pies", other selling shelled peanuts. When I eventually got my first and only jumper I cut the sleeves off and Mum sewed 31 on the back- a shame I didn't have the muscular arms like Barassi to go with it! LOL

He sent me a signed photo a week before the big announcement to go to Carlton-I was, like you, shattered.

Always wanted to have a coffee witrh him before either of us passed on...I had better make sure I get through the pearly gates :)

[Lucifers Hero 36,200]

The family have accepted the offer of a State Funeral.❤️💙

[Wilson7 2,419]

excellent tribute video in this article written by MFC historian Lynda Carroll, some footage of RDB i have not seen before
https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1434935/vale-ron-barassi-the-debutants-of-1953
 

[Wilson7 2,419]

 

[tiers 2,625]

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

So it is interesting that he used 31 as well as 17410 that day.  Maybe the 31 is now the better souvenir!

1964 GF Footy Record signed by players at anniversary lunch. Note Ron included 31.

Melbourne 50th anniversary GF 196419092023.pdf

[Lucifers Hero 36,200]

44 minutes ago, tiers said:

1964 GF Footy Record signed by players at anniversary lunch. Note Ron included 31.

Melbourne 50th anniversary GF 196419092023.pdf 313.91 kB · 3 downloads

You scored the double!  Well done.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,100]

2 hours ago, Wilson7 said:

 

Thanks so much Wilson7, A very moving video.

[58er 4,709]

6 hours ago, Demons3031 said:

Great post 58 er. Similar memories here as I was born in 1950.

Dad used to take us to the MCG to the old Bay 13 in those days-on the wing. Lolly boys, others selling "Here's your hot pies", other selling shelled peanuts. When I eventually got my first and only jumper I cut the sleeves off and Mum sewed 31 on the back- a shame I didn't have the muscular arms like Barassi to go with it! LOL

He sent me a signed photo a week before the big announcement to go to Carlton-I was, like you, shattered.

Always wanted to have a coffee witrh him before either of us passed on...I had better make sure I get through the pearly gates :)

Yes can't recalling meeting him other than a photo with  him Brian Dixon at  a 50 year function about 5 years ago at the MCG. 

[monoccular 15,019]

22 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

Is Roger Dean still alive?

If so, he should come clean and admit that he staged , and that Ron didn't touch him.

His dishonesty caused  Ron to miss Finals in '63, greatly diminishing our premiership chances.

I vaguely remember that Dean at some time in the last decade or so did admit to staging.