Author(s): Tee O'Neill

Film & TV

Ron Barassiiconic Australian Rules footballerchampion coach, motivational speaker and elder statesman. Do they make men like him any more? Barassi starts in World War II with Rons father, Ron Snr, himself a champion footballer, and one of the Rats of Tobruk, a powerful and heroic figure to his son, who is tragically killed in Libya. We follow the development of young Ron, who, under the care and mentorship of legendary coach Norm Smith, relentlessly turns himself into Mr Football. Ever driven to challenge himself, and live up to the impossible memory of his father, Barassi goes on past his glory playing days to successfully coach football clubs, taking them from wooden spooners to premiers. While that success is tempered with the failure of his marriage, small business, and his old club Melbourne, Number 31 is often daunted, but never beaten.