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 21 hours ago21 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??

3 hours ago, monoccular said:

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??

Yes…. Just after a Graeme Jacobs missed a sitter from dead in front….Phew!

4 hours ago, monoccular said:

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??

It was the difference between finishing first (enabling us to win the premiership) and fifth (missing the finals altogether).

So, a premiership goal.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by Fanatique Demon
Grammar

13 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

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!

Hassa and WOS. Who could forget.

Everyone knows Hassa.

We knew of Cornes.

36 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Hassa and WOS. Who could forget.

Everyone knows Hassa.

We knew of Cornes.

Hassa is a Melbourne legend true and true. He gave us so many thrills in his time as a player of such a high calibre. Great that people are praising him while he is still with us. A good opening post W.J.

13 hours ago, rjay said:

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

Same…I had his number on my jumper. I also have vague memories of his brother Lenny.

Saw him kick 7 whilst playing in the midfield. Genuine star.

5 hours ago, hardtack said:

Same…I had his number on my jumper. I also have vague memories of his brother Lenny.

I remember Len Mann vaguely- wasn't he a ruckman? - but I didnt think they were related. Anyone know?

19 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

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.

I look to more recient times and there is that past players co-hort lead by Rod Grinter & Paul Hopgood, represented in the media by Garry Lyon, Todd Viney and Jimmy Stynes before his passing. The next batch I would say includes guys like Robbo (love him or loath him for his match day 'entertainment' role), Brad Green, the Wizz (to an extent) and increasing Jeff White.

I think it has become a fair bit more stratified in the professional era, but I can see Gawny being a MFC ambassador for many years to come as well as Jonesy, but I'm not really too sure who else at this point.

20 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

I remember Len Mann vaguely- wasn't he a ruckman? - but I didnt think they were related. Anyone know?

Len Mann is Hassa’s cousin, older by two years. He joined the club in 1960 and played 46 games (5 goals) through until 1964.

Fun fact: Len Mann was first ruck in his first season at the club when he played in the 1960 premiership team for Melbourne. He wore the number 34.

What a great thought. A first year player wearing the Melbourne #34 guernsey in a premiership team. Bring it on!

I personally would love being called Mr. Mann

Thanks for the thoughts on a player I never knew.

I will hopefully be alive long enough to tell DL users in 2060 what a [censored] Tom Scully was and how Gawn spewed on him and went on to greatness post spew.

2060, eh, Dub? There's a fair group on here who'll have to be with you just in 'spirit'. Represent them well! 😇

50 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I look to more recient times and there is that past players co-hort lead by Rod Grinter & Paul Hopgood, represented in the media by Garry Lyon, Todd Viney and Jimmy Stynes before his passing. The next batch I would say includes guys like Robbo (love him or loath him for his match day 'entertainment' role), Brad Green, the Wizz (to an extent) and increasing Jeff White.

I think it has become a fair bit more stratified in the professional era, but I can see Gawny being a MFC ambassador for many years to come as well as Jonesy, but I'm not really too sure who else at this point.

I certainly, even particularly, meant that cohort, Rodney, for what they bring from the Club's history. 'History' in this discussion does them an injustice; they are very much 'present'. Their potential and actual contribution is tangible. The older cohorts, infirm or departed, can still provide models of attitudes to the Club and to life, though, for our cohorts current and yet to come, as they make, then go on to represent, history* for the Club.

(*...and now, into the spotlight, herstory)

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I look to more recient times and there is that past players co-hort lead by Rod Grinter & Paul Hopgood, represented in the media by Garry Lyon, Todd Viney and Jimmy Stynes before his passing. The next batch I would say includes guys like Robbo (love him or loath him for his match day 'entertainment' role), Brad Green, the Wizz (to an extent) and increasing Jeff White.

I think it has become a fair bit more stratified in the professional era, but I can see Gawny being a MFC ambassador for many years to come as well as Jonesy, but I'm not really too sure who else at this point.

Don't worry about this, Rodney. The discussion was about the value of the Club's history (vs looking to its future) to the Club. not to the 'outside world'. It seems to be in good hands in the former.