Ron Barassi Olympics Ron Barassi Olympics
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 Your public life defines you for everyone out there, but what defines you more to you? Your public or your private life? 

I’ve had a much better football career than I’ve had a personal life. I’ve had a divorce and those sorts of things. Not very nice to go through.

What was harder: player, player-coach or coach?

Probably player-coach is the hardest. It’s not done now, and it probably shouldn’t have been done when I was playing. Very demanding. I did ask some coaches, about eight or nine years ago, what did they enjoy most, playing or coaching. To my surprise, all except one, who was 50-50 anyway, said coaching, including myself. I think it’s because a coach puts in more than a player. Not physically, but it’s almost 24/7. There’s an old saying, the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. It’s a hell of a thrill to coach a premiership side.

 Who’s the best player you’ve seen in the last 30 years?   

Leigh Matthews. The Yanks have a great phrase, “Most Valuable Player.” Leigh Matthews was that.

Best ever? 

Still Matthews. He won Best and Fairest six or seven times at a top club, full of all-time greats.

Often your approach would change a player, and he’d become your work of art. Which work of art would you be most proud of?

Well, one thing that pleases a coach is to have a little scheme or tactic that works. In the 1975 grand final, we decided to drop Doug Wade. He was told on Thursday night, and half an hour later there’s a knock on the door. It’s Doug. He wanted to present his case. He was so respected that there were no problems. I said yes. I had to figure out how to best use him at that stage of his career. He played a forward pocket-type role instead of full-forward – and he’d been a great full-forward. It was completely out of character. I virtually wouldn’t let him go for a mark unless he had to. I said, “Just go for it on the ground.” He kicked four goals and could have had six. It was his first premiership. He’s turning 70, and he’s invited us on a three-week tour around Europe in October.

You’ve always loved success, but you’ve always had the ability to block out setbacks. How have you done that?  

I can’t answer those questions. It’s just me. It’s always a conscious effort, but it occurs naturally. There have been a couple of occasions where I’ve had to fight wrong emotions. But in the main, my natural inclination is to get off the deck and start fighting.