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Whether it is the premiership cup, a stand at the MCG or one of Melbourne\u2019s busiest streets, AFL greats agree the name, Ron Barassi, should adorn at least one great landmark.<\/p>\n
The most popular choice to honour the legend of the game, who died on Saturday aged 87, is naming footy\u2019s most prized piece of silverware after the man, allowing premiership heroes to hoist the Ron Barassi Cup for years to come.<\/p>\n
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Melbourne captain Ron Barassi holds up the 1964 VFL premiership cup as Collingwood captain Ray Gabelich looks on.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>The Age<\/cite><\/p>\n The Victorian government has offered Barassi\u2019s family a state funeral, and Premier Daniel Andrews posted on social media that he hopes they accept the memorial.<\/p>\n But former Melbourne star Russell Robertson said renaming the premiership trophy should also be on the cards for honouring Barassi, who played and coached in 10 grand final victories.<\/p>\n Barassi conked out the day after North Melbourne\u2019s first VFL premiership victory in 1975.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Fairfax<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cThe man is synonymous with success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not much else we can really give, and I\u2019m surprised there\u2019s not something else already named after him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe knows a thing or two about the silverware.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think there would be anyone in the AFL or VFL fraternity that wouldn\u2019t agree with that idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Robertson said Barassi should have been honoured already, and it would be fitting to see his name appear on grand final day alongside that of fellow legend Norm Smith, who played a leading role in Barassi\u2019s life and has the best player medal named after him.<\/p>\n \u201cHis mentor, his father figure, because his father died early, was Norm Smith,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The bronze statue of Barassi outside the MCG, unveiled in 2003.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Darrian Traynor<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cYou win the best player in the final, you get a Norm Smith, and then the son\u2019s medal after that could be the Ron Barassi Cup. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Collingwood president and television personality Eddie McGuire said he believed it should be named the Barassi-Matthews trophy to also celebrate the career of Hawthorn, Collingwood and Brisbane hero Leigh Matthews.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the AFL decides that they want to keep the trophy pristine, and there\u2019s merit in that as well, then I would think that the Melbourne Cricket Club should name the MCC Members [stand] the Ron Barassi,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Could Swanston St be renamed Barassi way?<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Chris Hopkins<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cHaving Ron Barassi on one side and Shane Warne on the other would just be magnificent, and Bill Ponsford at the city end, that would be sensational.\u201d<\/p>\n McGuire said if the cup or stand couldn\u2019t be renamed, then maybe Melbourne CBD\u2019s Swanston Street could become Barassi Way.<\/p>\n Former Carlton boss and AFL football chief Ian Collins called for a more permanent memorial than a grandstand, as they could be pulled down in the years to come.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, that doesn\u2019t show the real significance of the person,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cup seems to be the most natural one of all because everything to do with the grand final has sort of got a name.<\/p>\n \u201cTo name the premiership, you couldn\u2019t get any better than that to name it after Ron Barassi.\u201d<\/p>\n Collins said Barassi was universally known, an upstanding member of the community who wanted to see Aussie Rules grow.<\/p>\n \u201cYou couldn\u2019t get a cleaner, if that\u2019s right the word, individual,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Melbourne Football Club president Kate Roffey and Ron Barassi with the 2021 premiership cup.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Eddie Jim<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cHe always wanted to see [the game] get bigger and better.\u201d<\/p>\n Broadcaster and diehard Melbourne supporter Neil Mitchell said renaming the trophy was a no-brainer and that to make it formal, it should be called the Ron Barassi Junior Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just see his reaction to the premiership cup the year Melbourne won it in 2021,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey took the cup out to show him, and he just stood there and beamed at it because it was a Melbourne cup.<\/p>\n The Barassi Line became the name for the imaginary border between AFL and NRL.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Kathleen Adele<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIt meant a great deal to him, that cup, and to name it after him is an appropriate and excellent tribute.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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