AFL set to honour Ron Barassi with new medal to be presented on grand final day

One of Australian rules football’s most iconic sons is set to be formally recognised on its biggest stage each year. Here are the details on the new medal in Ron Barassi’s name.

Ron Barassi in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The AFL is set to honour the leadership and legacy of Australian football legend Ron Barassi by striking a special medal in his name to be presented to the premiership captain on grand final day.

The Herald Sun understands the league has been working with the Barassi family to bring the proposal to life, potentially as early as next month’s AFL grand final, which is set for September 28.

Barassi, who died during last year’s finals series, aged 87, remains one of the most influential figures in football, with his career in the game as a player, coach, media performer and personality spanning more than six decades.

It is believed the AFL has already commissioned a prototype medal with Barassi’s likeness on it.

Ron Barassi is Australian rules football’s most iconic name and is set to be honoured by the AFL. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

This year’s premiership captain would likely receive two pieces of silverware – the inaugural Ron Barassi Medal and a premiership medal.

If the idea goes ahead this year, as seems likely, the AFL would need two Barassi Medals on standby, as one of the main contenders, Brisbane, has co-captains in Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews.

The Ron Barassi Medal would be handed out at the post-game celebrations alongside the Norm Smith Medal (Barassi’s former coach and mentor) for the player judged best afield and also the Jock McHale Medal, for the premiership coach.

The AFL has been searching for the most appropriate way to honour Barassi, who was a towering figure who played in six premierships with Melbourne and who coached four flags at Carlton and North Melbourne before later stints with Melbourne and Sydney.

Many had proposed that the AFL premiership cup should be named after Barassi, but the man himself once said he opposed that idea.

There had also been speculation that each of the 23 players’ premiership medals should be named after Barassi.

Ron Barassi holds up the premiership cup after winning the 1964 Grand Final with Melbourne, over Collingwood.

But after much discussion between the AFL and the Barassi family, including wife Cherryl, a medal in his name for the premiership skipper was understood to have been deemed the most suitable option, given his outstanding leadership as a player.

Barassi captained Melbourne to two of the six flags he played in – 1960 and 1964 – with the latter being 60 years ago this year.

He was considered the ultimate team player, having also been vice-captain in two other Demons flags – 1957 and 1959.

Many of his teammates described him as the consummate leader, always willing to inspire and unite in equal force and never asking a player to do something he was not prepared to do himself.

The AFL premiership players’ club has a separate award named after Barassi, which has been quietly handed out since 2014, for the grand final-winning captain, but this new version would be presented before 100,000 fans on grand final day.