AFL legend Ron Barassi has died aged 87. Photo: Photosport
AFL legend Ron Barassi, who won 10 premierships as a player and coach, has passed away aged 87.
"After a full and extraordinary life, Ronald Dale Barassi, aged 87, left us today due to complications from a fall," a family statement said.
"He died peacefully, surrounded by loving family. We ask for privacy at this time."
Barassi played 254 senior VFL games in his career, including 204 for Melbourne and 50 for Carlton.
He was a star during the Melbourne Football Club's glory years, helping them to six premierships between 1955 and 1964.
A tall, fearless player, Barassi pioneered the position of ruck rover.
He then moved to Carlton in 1964 as a coach winning two premierships, the first as a player-coach before coaching North Melbourne to their first two flags in 1975 and 1977.
Barassi was one of the inaugural inductees into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
At the same time, he was named an AFL Legend, the first to be awarded that honour.
He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987 for his contribution to Australian rules football and was elevated in 2006 to a Legend of Australian Sport.
-ABC
