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The Legacy Series | Episode 2 | Hassa Mann

bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

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My memories of Hassa

1) Kicking the goal from the boundary line at Glenferrie Oval in 1964 to get us into the finals (2nd spot I think)

2) Missing the goal that would have put us in front in the 64 GF . My heart sank but thank God for Neil Crompton.

3 Being badly concussed at South Melbourne in the goal square from a high hit. Getting up groggy and played on only to get another bad knock. Wouldnt happenthese days.

4 ) Met him a couple of times at the Bentleigh Club. Lovely bloke.

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    56 minutes ago, Basher said:

    My memories of Hassa

    1) Kicking the goal from the boundary line at Glenferrie Oval in 1964 to get us into the finals (2nd spot I think)

    2) Missing the goal that would have put us in front in the 64 GF . My heart sank but thank God for Neil Crompton.

    3 Being badly concussed at South Melbourne in the goal square from a high hit. Getting up groggy and played on only to get another bad knock. Wouldnt happenthese days.

    4 ) Met him a couple of times at the Bentleigh Club. Lovely bloke.

    He used to show the video of him missing after training to give the boys a laugh.

    Absolutely lovely man(n) 

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    Back in the 90’s when Hassa was CEO i rang the Club to ask about something, possibly ’95 when everything on field was going pear shaped!! But i was put through to Hassa and he chatted with me for over an hour on what he and Stuie Spencer were trying to do on a very limited budget 

    It was fantastic, he could have easily given me 5 minutes, but no, Hassa understood the Supporters as much as the Club. 

    I had 29 on my Jumper as a 5 year old, when Hassa retired it became 26….

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    5 hours ago, Demonstone said:

    Other footballers who had pubs with a gimmicky advertising slogan included:

    Ricky Quade - "Have a quicky with Ricky"

    Larry Donohue - "Have one with he who kicked the ton"

    Hmm, I remember a certain footballer's wife did. And he was none too pleased about it!!

    And let Ricky know in no uncertain terms!! 

     

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    34 minutes ago, At Least I Saw a Flag said:

    Hmm, I remember a certain footballer's wife did. And he was none too pleased about it!!

    And let Ricky know in no uncertain terms!! 

     

    “Marvellous Effort, that….”

    Edited by Sir Why You Little

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    20 hours ago, bush demon said:

    Don't think Gary Hardeman ever played in a final...

    maybe in one of those end of season night premierships for those teams who missed the real finals?

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    Great interview.

    Gee the stuff that went on in the 60's makes me so mad.... whoever was involved in the Smith sacking should be erased from MFC history!

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    2 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    Great interview.

    Gee the stuff that went on in the 60's makes me so mad.... whoever was involved in the Smith sacking should be erased from MFC history!

    Did someone mention me…?

    Bah humbug!!!

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    9 hours ago, daisycutter said:

    maybe in one of those end of season night premierships for those teams who missed the real finals?

    That could be possible. They were thrilling games, via radio 3DB...

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    Great interview, great man, what a legend and all round MFC Hero. Hassa was such a natural footballer and a living Legend of the Merbein FC. I might add that I grew up in Mildura which is only 10k from Merbein which I know quite well, two of my older cousins would have played with Hassa at the Merbein Magpies.😁

    Edited by DeeZone

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    Hassa Mann was invited to a function held by the Old Scotch Collegians FC ( Launceston Tasmania ) at the Anzac Hostel, Launceston in April 1965. I had played one season in 1964 with Old Scotch who were beaten by Old Launcestonians in the Northern Amateur Grand Final. John Hamilton, who played for OL's and myself were recruited by MFC in 1965 and boarded at Kinkora Guest House, 186 Punt Road, Prahran with other MFC players. Tried to drag photo of Hassa into this but failed :(

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    One of the nicest former MFC players I've ever met. 

    He's someone that has time for everyone, not just people of his generation. Fans of later generations like myself wanting to learn about our past can gain so much from a chat with Mr Mann.

    We love you Hassa!

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    I was fortunate to attend the 2014 50th anniversary premiership lunch at the Bentleigh club. Having been at the 1964 grand final it was a delight to meet the players again.

    Hassa was one of the 14 (out of 20) players who were there and I got all their autographs. It was a joy to be there and Hassa was, as always, wonderful.

    After kicking the winning goal at the old Glenferrie Oval in 1964 to guarantee us first place on the ladder for the finals, how could he be anthing else.

    GO DEES. GO HASSA BABY.

     

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    2 hours ago, tiers said:

    I was fortunate to attend the 2014 50th anniversary premiership lunch at the Bentleigh club. Having been at the 1964 grand final it was a delight to meet the players again.

    Hassa was one of the 14 (out of 20) players who were there and I got all their autographs. It was a joy to be there and Hassa was, as always, wonderful.

    After kicking the winning goal at the old Glenferrie Oval in 1964 to guarantee us first place on the ladder for the finals, how could he be anthing else.

    GO DEES. GO HASSA BABY.

     

    The passage of play taking the ball from the back line involving Barassi, Bourke and Mann (l have forgotten someone) is the best sequence of football - preserved on video - from the Demons' golden era. PS Did you ask Hassa why he shanked that shot on goal?

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    3 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    The passage of play taking the ball from the back line involving Barassi, Bourke and Mann (l have forgotten someone) is the best sequence of football - preserved on video - from the Demons' golden era. PS Did you ask Hassa why he shanked that shot on goal?

    Barassi to Townsend to Bourke to Mann...

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    On 10/01/2025 at 21:03, Demonstone said:

    Thanks for that!  There's not enough footage of the great Hassa, unfortunately.

    He was my childhood Demons idol and I proudly sported his number 29 on my first Melbourne footy jumper.

    Ditto

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    On 11/01/2025 at 08:42, Tim said:

    One of our greats. The North footage would seem to be from 1967 where we won by 3 points at the ‘G, with Peter Smth running around in the #4 jumper previously made famous by his father - the coach that day.

     

    Was at the match, for 57 years I’ve held the memory of Hassa kicking the winning goal by snapping over his shoulder from deep in the left hand forward pocket in heavy traffic. The video says otherwise. 
     

    If only there was a replay of Queen’s Birthday Round 9 1967 v South Melbourne, Hassa kicked 7 in a big win.

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