One of the great pleasures I got from the opening night of the 2025 AFL National Draft was to see club legend Hassa Mann present the club guernsey to draftee Xavier Taylor.

It brought back memories of when my parents brought home our first television in 1959 and I turned on the set to watch Veals World of Sport on HSV7. In those days the show went to air on a Saturday and Hassa was interviewed as a budding new recruit from Merbein. He had a really bushie accent and it was very hard to understand what he was saying but he did well for himself in life quickly rising to executive level in business as well as having a long and rewarding career in football.

Born Harold Peter Mann on October 9, 1940, he earned the nickname "Hassa" as a toddler from his cousin and future Melbourne footballer, Len Mann.

Mann's impressive career highlights include:

- Awards and Accolades:

- 3× VFL premiership winner (1959, 1960, 1964)

- 3× Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist (1962, 1963, 1967)

- 2× Melbourne leading goalkicker (1967, 1968)

- Melbourne captain (1965-1968)

- All-Australian selection (1966)

- Career Statistics:

- Played 178 games for Melbourne, scoring 193 goals

- Finished in the top 10 of the Brownlow Medal count four times

- Post-Playing Career:

- Captain-coach at South Fremantle, winning a best and fairest in his debut season and a premiership in 1970

- Coached Caulfield in the Victorian Football Association (1981) and Eltham premiership team (1982)

- Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame (2013)

- Named at half-forward flank in Melbourne's official 'Team of the Century' (2000)

Mann remains involved with the Melbourne Football Club, maintaining close ties with his former teammates through regular reunions and this presentation links the club’s past with the present.

I recently heard Kane Cornes criticize his former club for emphasizing its history, arguing that it should concentrate solely on the future rather than on past achievements. While I believe we should not dwell too much on the past, I disagree with Cornes. I think it’s important for incoming players to be aware of and respect the club's heritage, to understand what they can aspire to achieve, to strive for greatness and to become part of a legacy that shapes the future.

Great to see Hassa at 85 and still a Demon!

@Whispering_Jack 👏👏

Great post. Hassa is a true legend to the red and blue. I’ve met him several times at club functions. Truly a great bloke on and off field. It was nice to see him given that moment to present the jumper. I am sure once XT reads up on Hassa’s bio, he will appreciate the moment.

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- 3× VFL premiership winner (1959, 1960, 1964)

- 3× Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist (1962, 1963, 1967)

- 2× Melbourne leading goalkicker (1967, 1968)

- Melbourne captain (1965-1968)

- Played 178 games for Melbourne, scoring 193 goals

Also add…

*All Australian twice 1966 & 1968

Represented Victoria in 8 interstate games

Best first year player 1959

Life member

MFC HALL OF FAME inductee 2001

Assistant coach

Chairman of selectors

Coached under 19s

Chief Executive Officer

Team of the century

The Club's history is also represented by a large cohort of past players, whose actual or potential contribution in myriad ways towards the Club's future needs to be recognised and fostered.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Loved Hassa saying to XT, “welcome to my club”. What a champion!

Hassa also given the Hans Ebeling award in 2011 by the MCC for his contribution to the MFC as a sporting section of the cricket club.

Hassa was my favourite player as a kid growing up...a true Melbourne legend.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Born Harold Peter Mann on October 9, 1940

A busy day for the worldwide Stork Premium Delivery Service - same date of birth of one John Winston Lennon.

5 minutes ago, Tim said:

A busy day for the worldwide Stork Premium Delivery Service - same date of birth of one John Winston Lennon.

The 60s wouldn't have been the same without either of them.

54 minutes ago, rjay said:

Hassa was my favourite player as a kid growing up...a true Melbourne legend.

Me too, @rjay . He was my first Demon hero and I proudly wore his #29 on my Melbourne footy jumper.

1 minute ago, Demonstone said:

Me too, @rjay . He was my first Demon hero and I proudly wore his #29 on my Melbourne footy jumper.

...and he stepped into those shoes post-1964 for those of us slightly older #subtract2

I have vague memories of his last couple of playing years, but I was just a bit too young to understand how great he was in his own time. I think my mum (a mental Dees supporter) had a secret crush on him. He always comes across as a gentleman AND a great bloke - a difficult combination to uphold. And he still takes great joy in all things MFC, which is a joy to observe.

Wasn’t it Hassa who slotted that “impossible goal” at Glenferrie Oval from deep in the forward pocket that got us into the 64 finals??