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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Ron Barassi

1975
Rennie Ellis

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 50.4 cm x 40.3 cm, image: 43.5 cm x 30.5 cm)

Ron Barassi AM (1936‒2023) is among the most celebrated individuals in the history of Australian Rules football. A descendant of Swiss-Italian prospectors who had come to the Victoria during the gold rush, Barassi was born in Castlemaine and spent his early childhood in nearby Guildford. He was five years old when his father died while serving with the Australian Army at Tobruk. Afterwards, a group associated with the Melbourne Football Club, who Barassi senior had played for, pledged to help support his widow and son, with the club later successfully lobbying for an amendment to drafting rules so that Barassi junior could play for the Demons also. Barassi was 17 when he debuted for the Demons against Footscray in 1953 and went on to play 204 games over his 11 seasons with the club. Too short for a ruckman but too tall for a rover, he helped create the ruck-rover position instead and became renowned for his brilliant kicking and his nuggety, intense style of play. He was a member of the flag-winning Demons teams of 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1959; and captained the club to further premiership victories in 1960 and 1964. Enticed by a lucrative contract to join the Carlton Football Club as captain-coach, Barassi left the Demons in 1965 and in 1968 led the Blues to their first premiership win in 21 years. Carlton took out the flag for the second time under Barassi’s direction with a comeback win against Collingwood in the 1970 grand final. Barassi left Carlton in 1971 with a record of 99 wins from 147 games as senior coach. Two years later, he joined the North Melbourne Kangaroos, guiding the team that won the wooden spoon in his first season there to the premierships of 1975 and 1977. Barassi returned to Melbourne in 1981 for a four-year stint there as coach and retired from football in 1995 after two seasons coaching the Sydney Swans. As legendary for his humility as for his footballing nous and prowess, Barassi was twice voted Melbourne’s best and fairest, thrice selected for the All Australian side, and was named in the AFL Team of the Century. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987 and in 1996 he became the AFL’s first officially designated Legend.

Purchased 2006
© Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Rennie Ellis (age 35 in 1975)

Ron Barassi AM (age 39 in 1975)

Subject professions

Sports and recreation

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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