The Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Debate
History Of The Ron Barassi Debates
In 1976 Professor Ian Turner of Monash University initiated the Ron Barassi Memorial Lecture, a fun look at aspects of Australian football, in memory of Barassi's father.
The lectures lapsed in 1978 but were reintroduced at Monash University in 1994 by Dr Margaret Lindley. Dr Lindley a Lord's Taverner, is now at the University of Tasmania and has assisted in resurrecting the Ron Barassi Debate for Lord's Taverners Tasmania. This has become an annual event in Hobart to raise funds to aid disabled and disadvantaged children to play sport.
2009 Ron Barassi Debate - "The Media has a lot to answer for"
By Mike Bingham
The 7th annual Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Debate produced a breakfast to remember at Wrest Point Hotel Casino when a near-record 347 Taverners and friends braved Hobart's early morning chill. The debate “that the media has a lot to answer for'' teamed Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless and former Carlton president John Elliott versus sportswriter and author John Harms and ABC radio's talkback host Tim Cox.
The original plan was to have Melbourne footballer writers Caroline Wilson (The Age) and Mark Robinson (Herald-Sun), but both had to cancel at the last moment because a major football story was about to break in Melbourne. Given the roasting handed out to them and the media in general by Elliott and Colless their absence may have spared them some blushes.
Richard Colless opened proceedings with some whimsical observations and a story of how a football writer once almost shouted a drink. There was also a joke about his fellow debater, Elliott, arriving at the Pearly Gates and objecting to God sitting in his chair.
John Harms opened for the negative by describing the media as a diverse lot, some of whom would sell their grandmother for a story. But he then declared that “some of us'' seek the truth. Harms then lifted the debate to another plane by recounting his study of rhetoric and its key elements – ethos, pathos and logos. His studies had included the works of Aristotle, Plato, Augustus, Thomas Aquinas, and Ronnie Wearmouth (of Magpie fame). Buy the Tassie Taverners' DVD of the debate to get the connection between Aristotle and Wearmouth.
John Elliott, a longtime supporter of the Barassi debate, took the stand and pulled no punches. "I've waited all my life to meet one (media person) that speaks the truth," he said. Part of the problem was the massive growth in the football media from a few a couple of decades ago to 800 today. It meant a lot of people were desperate for stories and there was no longer any privacy.
Then Big Jack dropped a bombshell which put the breakfast debate on TV, radio and newspapers around the nation. "In my 20 years at Carlton (1983-2002) I think we had some people who claimed to have been raped by our players, but not once did it get into the Press. There were only about 20 people writing (football) and they weren't interested in that sort of nonsense. We'd pay the sheilas off and wouldn't hear another word."
The comments and the ensuing reaction led to him being barred from his old club.
Ron Barassi, moderator of the debate which honours his father, said he thought the media did a pretty good job, but opted to “sit on the fence'' when asked which side had won. The official judging panel -Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett, State Opposition Leader Will Hodgman and national president of the Lord's Taverners, John Lill, scored it 2-1 for Harms and Cox.
2008 Debate "Players make coaches look good"
Kevin Sheedy, David Parkin, Peter 'crackers' Keenan
Jim Buckley and Terry Daniher
Delighted new Honorary Tasmanian citizens, Kevin Sheedy, David Parkin, Peter 'crackers' Keenan, Jim Buckley and Terry Daniher show off their certificates to the original Honorary Tasmanian, John Elliott, after this year’s Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Debate at Wrest Point.
This year’s debate, 'that players make coaches look good' featured legendary coaches Sheedy and Parkin, against two multiple-premiership players who played under them, Daniher and Buckley. Knowing how good they were, the players had little trouble convincing moderator Keenan (substituting for Ron Barassi himself) and adjudicator Elliott that they did indeed make coaches look good.
For the first time in his career with Parkin in attendance, John was able to give the pre-match address, recounting the story of hiring, then sacking, then re-hiring and finally sacking David Parkin at Carlton. He spoke glowingly of all the speakers, but particularly Jim Buckley and his betting escapades, setting the scene for the debate that followed.
But Sheedy and Parkin, premiership players themselves, as well as being premiership coaches, did not go down without a fight. Sheedy reminding Daniher that it was he who unplugged the sewers when he got to Essendon and got rid of the deadwood. Sheedy also highlighted the impact of coaches when he recounted how he kept Michael Long at Essendon by buying him a doona and electric blanket after Michael wanted to go home because Melbourne was too cold.
Parkin mused that it is not coaches who adorn the footy pages after late night indiscretions. He also expressed exasperation at trying to coach players who spent much of their playing time making sure their bets were on and following the results during the game. Buckley countered by pointing out that Parkin unfairly accused him of placing bets before the game when in fact he actually placed his bets at half time. Daniher reminded Sheedy that life for a player just trying to get a kick on the Essendon forward line was difficult enough without Sheedy sending out messages to move him around the field.
Keenan summed it up by reminding Jim Buckley that he only won a stereo because Keenan gave the votes in the final game.
2007 Debate "Tasmania Should Have An AFL Team"
(by Alister Nicholson - with thanks To ABC televisions "Stateline")
AFL football is proving a hit in Tasmania. On Sunday, a record crowd is expected to fill York Park when Hawthorn takes on the Kangaroos. But the Hawks' lucrative deal to play in Launceston hasn't satisfied all the local fans. Some think we should have our own team and they won't be put off by AFL boss Andrew Demetriou and the multi-million dollar price tag. Alister Nicholson ventured into the home team heartland at this week's Lord’s Taverners Ron Barassi debate.
Ian Cover, Dan Lonergan, Graeme McMahon bemused by the "churchillian" Knocka Knowles
With an audience of 300 Tasmanians, it was always going to be a cushy gig for those arguing the State should have an AFL team. ABC radio's Tim Cox started the debate with a direct attack on the opposition's credibility.” They thought it would be a good idea to sit down and have a team lunch to talk tactics, to work out how they could endeavour to sell the unsellable to smart folk like us. So what did they do? They went and had a lunch at a seafood restaurant. And guess what? Two of the three of them are allergic to shellfish.” He finished by painting a portrait of Tasmanian sporting success.” I could use the remainder of my time, my minutes left to me, to trot out a roll call of Tasmanian players who have excelled in our great game or to tell you they didn't think we'd cut it in interstate cricket either. Last time I looked, we had recently won the one-day trophy, the Pura Cup. We've got the national captain."
Former Essendon President and Premiership player, Graeme McMahon, was first up for the negative team.” We should be really clear, the decision as to whether a team will or won't come here will never be made on emotion. The AFL is not an emotional group of people, I can tell you. It will be made on a business case. In 2007, it will take $30 million to field a team in the AFL.” McMahon asked how Tasmania could generate that kind of money.
Football "intellectual" Knocka Knowles had all the answers. “Haven't you heard of chook raffles, Cock? Now a lot of you blokes and sheilas what's here today would remember the Avoca Football Club wallaby shoot, and I tell you what, that raised a lot of money. It was a good success. In fact, it was the same idea that was copied off my great uncle Clarrie. He had the Steppes Football Club Tassie tiger shoot which was popular after the First World War. Now, to bring them sharp ideas of mine into focus for the 21st century, I have devised a rabbit shooting weekend on Macquarie Island.
Tim Lane, Knocka Knowles, Tim Cox enjoy the moment
AFL commentator Dan Lonergan honed in on a perceived lack of talent in Tasmania. He brushed over Hudson, Hart and Baldock, Crosswell, Jones and Richardson, focusing more on those who didn't make it. “Jody Arnol, he had more tattoos than kicks in his league days with the Saints. He stood out like a carpet snake in a foul house, ladies and gentleman, he played about five games. Then there were the following - Jeremy Smith, Andrew Herring. Who? Craig Cross, Jason Gibson, Grant Williams, Cory Robertson, Ross Duffy, John Lister, Nick Probert, Tim Wilson.”
He effectively made an instant list of enemies and then introduced the parochial argument.
”York Park in Launceston is a developing ground but Hobart residents wouldn't come because of the dislike, and we know about this in Victoria, between the south and the north. And if the team was based at Bellerive Oval, the population from Launceston and Davenport and the like wouldn't come.”
Mark Thomas then thanked Dan, adding “that's gone over an absolute treat and the families of the people you named before are outside waiting to give you a cheerio as well on the way back.”
The final speaker for the negative, could-have-been champion Ian Cover, sarcastically suggested Tasmania didn't need an AFL team as there's already too much to do. “Imagine this, you've got the choice of watching your Tasmanian team in the AFL, or going to the Royal Hobart Showgrounds for the 28th National Darts Championships. I know where I'd be, straight out to the showgrounds, pot in one hand and a dart in the other.”
2007 Barassi Debate Team Members
The champion of Tasmania's AFL cause, Tim Lane, summed up for the affirmative – “As for Dan Lonergan, well, Dan gratuitously gave us a lovely geography lesson about Tasmania. I was most appreciative of that, and then proceeded to refer to the town of Davenport. I mean, so much for his geography lesson, let's tear up those notes and throw them away. He then told us about the failed Tasmanian draftees as if no Victorian draftee has ever failed in the AFL. I mean, for goodness sake, the man is punch drunk, he is not to be taken seriously. Give us a Tasmanian team, you'll actually serve the State and the nation well because it would be the most unifying thing that had ever happened in the history of this great State. Not only should Tasmania have a team, it could have a team and it will have a team.
After a few words of wisdom from the moderator Ron Barassi “In my heart I'd love to see a Tassie team”, it was time to announce the votes of three so called impartial judges. Visitors: zero, home team: three. Should Tasmania have an AFL team? It has just gone in a points decision 3-0 to the affirmative team. Ladies and gentlemen, the affirmative team.
2006 Debate “A Woman Should Coach An AFL Team” (by Alister Nicholson - ABC Hobart)
The divisive issue of whether a female should coach an AFL team was the topic of this year’s Ron Barassi Debate. Arguing in the affirmative were former Carlton President John Elliott, Slamming Sam “Lamb Chop” Kekovich and ABC Hobart Radio’s Tim Cox. University of Tasmania lecturer Dr Margaret Lindley, comedian and Hobart breakfast presenter (and yes, daughter of previous Barassi debater, Michael) Tori Hodgman and former Australian netball coach Joyce Brown, argued against.
Margaret Lindley, Tori Hodgman, Joyce Brown
ABC News presenter Peter Gee did his best Geoffrey Robertson impersonation by throwing a range of hypothetical questions at the panellists. Elliott and Kekovich explained the virtues of the “model” female coach – who’d use her good looks to get the best out of players. But Elliott’s true colours emerged when he summed up with a snort, “We want a woman coach in the AFL… preferably not at Carlton!”
Joyce Brown and Dr Margaret Lindley had a common thread to their argument: women are ready to coach an AFL club but the players aren’t. Dr Lindley argued that the drink driving episode involving her beloved Eagle, Ben Cousins, proved players needed basic training in how to behave before they could cope with a female coach.
Joyce Brown said women were too strict on rules and would treat players equally. She said this approach would be foreign to AFL clubs who let the indiscretions of champions go unpunished.
Tori Hodgman chose to ridicule Elliott’s luck with women rather than form a cohesive argument.
It was a closely contested debate but the result narrowly went the way of the affirmative. Tim Cox initially waffled on to the point of reprimand from Elliott but may have delivered the killer blow. “Look at the first three letters of the word Sherrin,” he said.
2005 Debate "Should The Clubs Run The AFL?"
Tim Cox, Sam Kekovich, John Elliott
“Should The Clubs Run The AFL?” was the hot topic of the 2005 Ron Barassi Debate, with long-time protagonists former Carlton Club President John Elliott, Tasmanian MHA Michael Hodgman, former AFL Commissioner and CEO Ross Oakley and former Essendon President Graeme McMahon at their argumentative best.
As in past years, John Elliott disagreed with the tropic and turned the argument around to suit himself and partner-in-crime McMahon, surprisingly suggesting that that clubs should not run the AFL, but that they should have more power than they currently possess.
Despite the blatant attempts to re-write the rules, something that unkind non-Carlton supporters claim he attempted at Carlton, the new Brownlow-style voting found against him.
Ron Barassi didn’t help the cause by again wimping out as one of the judges and awarding a draw. In the end the result was a clear victory to the “Defenders of The Faith” in Hodgman and Oakley over “The Presidential Mafia” in Elliott and McMahon.
2004 Debate "Has The Fun Gone Out Of Football"
Michael Hodgman, Ross Oakely
Nearly 380 people at last year’s Ron Barassi Debate “Has the fun gone out of Football” couldn’t believe their ears – charged with the responsibility of adjudicating, Ron Barassi “wimped out” and delegated the decision making to Ron Barassi Award winner Sam Hallam.
Could it be that he feared former Carlton off-field enforcer, John Elliott or serial knuckle man, social drinker and occasional ladies man (now we know why Sam missed North Melbourne’s 1975 Premiership photo), Sam Kekovich or perhaps a former VFL player under him, Gary “Bull” Baker (Ron did sack him after all)?
Or was it the formidable combination of ex-TFL umpire, Gary “Smokey” Dawson (who admitted that he took up umpiring because his nickname as a child was “maggot”, so being a “white maggot” really appealed to him), or Coodabeen Champion (albeit singing comedian as Sam sneeringly referred to him) Greg Champion, or West Coast Eagles tragic, University lecturer (sheila, lovingly proclaimed Sam) Margaret Lindley.
Whatever the reason, abrogate he did, and Sam Hallam ruled in favour of the negatives, on the well reasoned argument that Margaret was a Tasmanian now and a West Coast Eagles supporter and Kekovich and Elliott were far too confident, crawled to Barassi and he was excited by the prospect of Big Jack receiving a runners-up medallion on a black and white ribbon (what other colour is so appropriately synonymous with coming second?).
Gary Dawson, Greg Champion, Margaret Lindley
But maybe it was the peerless performance of Greg Champion before and during the debate – and the ode to Warnie to the 1979 Willie Nelson signature tune of “On the road again”, with “On the phone again” or to Matthew Lloyd “What about a free” (with apologies to Australian band Moving Pictures who made “What About Me” a hit in 1982).
But the last word should be reserved for “Slamming” Sammy Kekovich. He shirt fronted modern players for their prissy haircuts and designer clothes. “When I was playing football let me assure you a metro sexual meant having a quickie on the tram on the way home from training”, Kekovich said. Training was only two nights a week – five ‘till dark. It allowed us time for other sporting events, at Caulfield and Flemington. And you didn’t have to have your skin folds checked, your weight monitored or your diet scrutinized by some skinny Sheila who extolled the virtues of mung beans and lentils”. Amen.
When asked how the former North Melbourne star, with his reputation, could now be so erudite, he replied “That’s a brand of Glue isn’t it? Touché.
2003 Debate "Australian Rules Football Was Conceived in Tasmania"
You can forget about the Parliamentary hothouse, the most heated debate in Tasmania last year was contested around the claim that Australian Rules Football was conceived in Tasmania.
Ian Cover (2:06)
Margaret Lindley(2:08))
Peter Gee(1:33))
Michael Hodgman(1:30))
Michael Hodgman(2:50))
John Elliott(1:20))
John Elliott(1:28))
Ron Barassi(0:45))
Ron Barassi(0:37))
Ron Barassi(1:20))
Jim Bacon(1:51))
Jim Bacon(0:38))
Jim Bacon(2:00))
Cover and Elliott (2:17))
A crowd of 300 were treated to a battle of wits (or half-wits) never before witnessed on the one stage before. The Tasmanian Prosecutors Michael “The mouth from the south” Hodgman and Peter “ABC News and Sports Commentator” Gee triumphed magnificently over the Victorian Usurpers in John “Big Jack” Elliott and Ian “Coodabeen Champion” Cover in responding to History Lecturer Dr Margaret Lindley's proposition that “Australian Rules Football Was Conceived in Tasmania”.
Adjudicator Ron Barassi was swayed by the strength of the Tasmanian argument. (Coupled with a desire to return home safely!) It was clear that Australian football was invented in Tasmania after settlement in 1803 as a hybrid version version of Gaelic and village green football in the early 1800’s and then transported to Victoria in the 1830’s when that colony was settled from Tasmania. It was then refined with the skills and rules developed by the new settlers following the example of the aboriginals of Western Victoria.
The debate proved conclusively that Tasmania’s John Batman, founder of Melbourne, together with John Fawkner, introduced the game to Tasmania’s new colony, years before any Official records indicate. It is also known that an ancestor of Colin Von Bibra, a current Lords Taverners in Hobart, was with the founding fleet. The sixteen year-old adventurer, Francis Louis Von Bibra sailed from Launceston, in 1835, to settle Melbourne. He made his mark when he purchased the land from the local natives that later became Flemington Racecourse.
Unfortunately, like Batman and Fawkner he was forced by the Governor of the NSW colony to hand it back. However, he did bequeath a quite remarkable piece of sporting memorabilia, his footy boots, and one of these was passed to the Taverners for presentation to the Premier as symbolic handing back of Tasmania’s football heritage.