Ron Barassi will become a permanent fixture of grand final day, with the AFL set to introduce a new medal to honour the Australian Rules champion.
One of the most important figures in the game’s history, Barassi’s passing at the age of 87 in September 2023 prompted calls for an award to be renamed after the legendary player and coach, with many suggestions that the premiership cup itself be named after him.
As revealed by News Corp journalist Glenn McFarlane on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, the AFL will instead introduce a medal named after Barassi to be awarded to the premiership captain, in a similar vein to the Jock McHale Medal given to the premiership-winning coach named in honour of the Collingwood coaching icon.
According to McFarlane, the new medal could be implemented as early as this season.
“It [the medal] will go to the premiership skipper, which I think is fairly appropriate given that Ron was twice a premiership skipper with Melbourne,” McFarlane said.
“It’s not over the line yet, but we’re pretty sure it’s going to happen this year. Prototypes have already been looked at including Ron’s image on the medal.”
Co-host Jon Ralph added that the medal will be given to the premiership captain by past premiership captains, similar to how the McHale Medal and Norm Smith Medal for best afield are awarded by previous winners.
Barassi was a six-time VFL premiership player with Melbourne, including as captain of their 1960 and 1964 grand final wins; but his contribution to the game as a coach was arguably even more profound.
He was a four-time premiership-winning coach, claiming two apiece with Carlton and North Melbourne – the latter’s the club’s first two ever flags – with his masterminding of the Blues’ famous comeback victory over Collingwood in the 1970 grand final from 44 points down at half time thanks to a pioneering handball-happy game style seen as a foundational moment for modern football.
Hassa Mann (L) and Ron Barassi carry Melbourne’s 2021 premiership flag. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Houston ban confirmed after Port’s bizarre ‘Vegemite lid’ defence
Dan Houston’s five-match suspension for his bump on Adelaide’s Izak Rankine has been upheld at the AFL Appeals Board.
Houston was initially given a five-match suspension by the AFL Tribunal for the hit that left Rankine with a concussion and a shoulder injury, but Port Adelaide sought to challenge the decision given the ban would officially end his season.
The unsuccessful bid ensures Houston’s season is done, with the Power to play a maximum five matches before the end of the season should they reach the grand final.
The Power argued the Tribunal erred in establishing that Houston made high contact to Rankine, and that an error of law was made in determining that he had erred in making a choice to bump, calling as they did at the Tribunal for the ban to only reach three weeks – which would guarantee Houston be available for the grand final should the Power make it.
Most bizarrely of all, the Power lawyer attempted to make the case that Houston hitting the top of Rankine’s shoulder should not be said to constitute high contact with a truly strange ‘paint lid’ and later ‘Vegemite lid’ argument.
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“The lid is the top of the paint can, but it’s also part of the paint can,” the lawyer said, later adding that the Vegemite jar opened in the morning has a lid which counts as the ‘top’ of the body.
The Power’s legal team went on to claim a five-match ban was ‘manifestly excessive’ when compared to similar incidents this year, especially given Houston did not make head-high contact.
They likewise called for Houston’s previously clean record to be factored into the suspension, just as it was for Charlie Cameron in his controversial escape from a dangerous tackle ban earlier this year.
In response, the AFL claimed the Power’s argument contradicted them having already pleaded guilty to the act at the beginning of the Tribunal hearing on Tuesday.
In a statement explaining their upholding of the five-match ban, the Appeals Board stated evidence could be found to suggest ‘forceful high contact to the neck and… upper shoulder’, dismissing the Power’s argument that the ban was excessive by referring to St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster’s seven-match ban for a high bump on Kangaroo Jy Simpkin in pre-season.
“It [the Tribunal] made those findings about serious or significant harm and the potential for more serious injury on the basis of the video and photographic evidence,” the statement reads.
“There was material before the Tribunal which it could be found that there was forceful high contact to the neck and that there was forceful contact to the opponent’s upper shoulder. It was open to the Tribunal to find that the offence charge was serious and significant.
“In argument for Houston, it was put to him that the sentence of five matches was perhaps within that [fair] range, keeping in mind the sentence of seven matches accorded to Webster earlier in the season, and keeping in mind the other cases that were relied heavily upon by counsel for Houston, which related to penalties of four matches.
“Accordingly, we concluded that the penalty imposed is not mainly outside the range of sentences available, and we dismiss that ground of appeal.
Izak Rankine is knocked out by a late hit from Dan Houston. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
“Finally, Houston also submitted that the Tribunal failed to give weight or adequate weight to his exemplary record. Again, this was the subject of submissions below, and reasons were given by the Tribunal.
“In our view it could not be said the Tribunal did not give that matter by consideration. Accordingly, the appeal will be dismissed.”
Houston has been linked to a trade to a Victorian-based club at season’s end, meaning the Power’s Showdown win over Adelaide in which he concussed Rankine could be his final appearance as a Port Adelaide player.
Should the Power fail to reach the grand final, or do so without losing a qualifying final, then Houston will need to finish his suspension at another club should he be traded.