Ron Barassi interview with Gary Ablett Snr

[@eugenequinn4578]

I’m an 82 year old Irishman living in Western Australia and now a keen follower of the AFL. My memory goes back to the first time Ron Barassi brought an Aussie team over to Dublin to try out a joint-rules game with an All-Ireland GAA team. I was the chief ground steward in Croke Park, Dublin at that time and had the pleasure of bringing Ron and his team from their dressing-room out onto the pitch. Good to see he is still going strong and the Jim Styne’s connection with the Melbourne Club is written in history.

[@jmcplaw]

Remarkable experience!

[@allymayful]

Ron passed away last year. Praise God he got to see Melbourne get another Premiership before he passed. The first one for Melbourne since Ron had played for them.

[@NoBody-ht1oh]

Gary naming Gary was a great Gary move. Never has a Gary been more appropriately named by a Gary than this Gary to that Gary! Go Gary!

[@Natu776]

As a man who has always wanted to change his name to Gary, always being a closeted Gary, it was a step by step motion into Garyhood. First the surname to Gary, then the middle name to Gary, before going full Gary glory into Gary Gary Gary.

[@gazzablanca]

Should have had 2 x r's in Garry.

[@aaronm8143]

Lol thanks for that

[@aaronm8143]

Natu776 lol

[@tdub5776]

Shame he couldn’t see his duty of care with Alisha Horan

[@ilikevines]

It was very interesting to see him talk honestly, I had no idea he was such an thoughtful articulate individual.

[@wespaul9345]

Yes. He's very impressive

[@Wilantonjakov]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C soccer is for pussies

[@jamesleon2770]

Thought the same

[@paulhennessey3454]

Robert King loved his response to gun control

[@aaronm8143]

MAN UTD it’s pretty mind blowing they have the 4th most highest league attendance in the whole world. The country population is only around 25 million, but there game attendance just blows my mind for the population size alone. It’s kind of cool how them, and my country (USA) have our own version of football we’ve made. Footie though has the best athletes I’ve seen though to be frank. The ball control they have is just super human.

[@jaxonvorheesss]

“Do you regret calling him Gary” Ablett “it’s getting to that stage”. 25 years later and I bet he feels great about it now.

[@geosid1696]

Junior Ablett a champ....Pies supporter.

[@harryricochet8134]

Absolute magician. Lifelong 54yo Blues lover here. Love ya Gary, you gave so very much more to the game than you ever took away. Be blessed always friend.

[@geosid1696]

Pies supporter and agree

[@Magpie_Mark92]

I liked Garys humbleness a very quietly spoken man They are always the best people and players

[@spacesbali]

OMG. No idea he could speak, with so much clarity. Media portrays him as a recluse who could only play football. Seems much more to him that media spotlights

[@eatablecookie858]

Rest in peace Ron Barassi!

[@greebo7857]

The two greatest players ever are Gary Ablett.

[@jamesleon2770]

Best comment ever

[@darrenjray]

Matt Rowell

[@TonkaGoldman-xd5iw]

@@jamesleon2770 too right!

[@aaronm8143]

I’m an American just getting into the sport. Are they pretty much the father, and son Michael Jordan of footie?

[@TonkaGoldman-xd5iw]

@@aaronm8143 I went to see Gary Snr play every week. He was very much better than any other player I have seen. At the highest level - 1985 state of origin game vs WA he had only played 9 games and was selected to represent Victoria. He kicked 8 goals on a half forward flank. This announced his arrival as an exceptional talent having done it at the highest level. In 1989 he kicked 9 goals in a losing grand final. He defeated many opponents. They could not stop him. His son is a different player altogether. Smaller man. But very talented. They seem to be instinctively able to do the impossible. Nathan Ablett, the other of Gary Snr's sons, was a super player but walked away from the game. Geoff Ablett, their uncle, could run like the wind. The Krakouer brothers (North Melbourne) were also freakish players, along with the Danihers (Essendon). Neale Daniher in particular was an exceptional player before he busted his knee. The other Australia you should know about is Don Bradman (cricket). His average will neber be beaten. In fact, Babe Ruth admired him so much he invited him to America. No other sportsman has dominated their sport more than Bradman. With the closest probably being Walter Lindrum (billiards).

[@allanlafontaine2587]

Ron Barassi and Gary Ablett, 2 of the biggest names in the sports history

[@jakenorthbriz]

The Ablett kids adored their father, it would be wonderful knowing your father is the greatest player who ever lived.

[@atomariel4849]

He spoke about the family and how it's breakdown contributes to the destruction of society 💯

[@fantasy0coach]

Gary Senior was a master at every skill. No other player compares to his talent. He kicked bags of goals in games as often as lockett and dunstall. (One day he kicked 14 playing the first 3 quarters on the wing, where he had 9 before going forward) He kicked miraculous goals more often than daicos. (Left foot bananas on the boundary from 50) He played the ground ball at speed better than Gary jnr, Judd, Cable, Matthews. And kicked regular 60 metre goals on the run, either foot. He took spectacular, amazing marks more often than jezza, barker, knights, carey. He was as smart and versatile as rioli, pendlebury, hird, grant. (he would leap and take the ball at boundary throw ins and snap acute goals while still in mid air). He was tougher and more brutal than dipper, matthews, brereton, voss, brown. Players got out of his way, he would split open packs and pinching, punching and holding opponents copped plugger-like treatment. All other players mentioned in the greatest ever debate are great at one or two attributes, Gary Ablett Senior was great at them all. The greatest ever by a big margin. From a Hawks fan.

[@coldacre]

fantasy0coach I really like that post!! he was indeed in the top 5 players of all time. but there's one comparison you didnt make. John Coleman. you said that Gary Senior was the master at every skill. No other player compares to his talent. I disagree. John Coleman was the Ablett of the 1950's. he did it first. he was a better leap, a better mark, a better kick and a more dominant player than anyone else who played the game. there's a reason why they call it the Coleman Medal. he has the second highest goal average of anyone who played the game (537 goals in 98 matches???? by the age of 25! imagine if he'd played 300 games..... 1600 goals... unless he actually IMPROVED after the age of 25, like most full forwards have in the history of this game! potentially 1700-1800 goals.) there is only one player that I have heard of where the spectators behind the goals would switch ends every quarter. Gary was a freak and for mine, top 3 players I saw in my lifetime (along with Leigh Matthews & Wayne Carey), but my grandmother, who still goes to the footy in her 80's, says that Coleman was the best. and she still has her marbles ;)

[@fantasy0coach]

Coldacre He could well be. I never saw him play. But the way footy was played in those days, I can't imagine Coleman comparing to the ground skills and pace. I would also think it would be more common to have single dominant players in that era where practically every contest was one on one. If it wasn't for the fact that injuries were career ending back then, I am sure all the records would still be from then. And yes, Coleman's would certainly have been unbeatable had he played the games. There have been so many great players over time that you can't really compare them, all great champions in their own right. Carey is a standout, his leadership was second to none. Matthews was unique, he paved the way for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th efforts in a contest. After being knocked over, he would bounce back to his feet so quick, like the ground was a trampoline. It used to amaze me. Peter Knights was better to watch. He gets forgotten. Players like him and Barker used to take half a dozen hangers a game, as well as be the best player in the team practically every week. We all focus on a few only, mainly goal kickers, and many great champions get forgotten.

[@Antipodean33]

fantasy0coach You must admit though the rules back then were in favor of the full forwards. Look in this montage here, he's got someone by the back of his jumper around the collar and is literally pulling him down just as the ball is coming in. I wonder how many he would've kicked in this day and age. Not saying he wasn't a great footy player, just the goal tally is dubious

[@fantasy0coach]

Antipodean33 Yeah maybe. But you would need to see a montage of how many he didnt get paid to him to know that. It might balance out with the fact that full backs could practically assault full forwards back then also, without giving away a free kick. It was a true battle of strength. Today the forwards are favoured in that respect with the hands in the back, jumper tug etc. The biggest disadvantages for todays forwards are the team defence, and zoning back in numbers. It's no longer one on one.

[@Antipodean33]

fantasy0coach Yeah i suppose the full backs could get away with alot as well. It was the great days of footy, i used to love the way Ablett and other forwards would lock arns with the full back and just hold them from the hot spot where the ball was coming in with brute strength and then let go at the last second and take a screamer of a one hander mark. Ablett snr was the master of that

[@paulypauly2062]

The Illuminatii algorithm has brought me here

[@daveredfern8258]

Me to. LMAO. I have to say thank you. Ablett was an amazing player.

[@christiana4285]

Let’s start a club.

[@sda6795]

@@daveredfern8258 keep laughing mate, because Gary Ablett is right.

[@TARBUNNY2013]

Awesome Footballer,Without doubt the Greatest Ever

[@doctornaes]

Only remember glimpses of him as a kid. Still the best I've seen

[@judycollins8319]

I have followed vfl/afl for many many years and always been a Geelong fan. Gary Ablett snr (god) is the best player of all time.

[@chezzamp5974]

Ablett was always such a private person, great interview by another great, Ron Barassi! Who cares about his personal and private life, that's exactly where it should lie - "his" personal and private life. Don't we all have skeletons in our own cupboards? Ablett will always go down in my books as one of the greatest players of all time.

[@darrenjray]

Today that would be like Leigh Matthews interviewing someone. You could hardly say no!

[@dhenderson1810]

Loved going to Geelong games and seeing Gary Ablett perform live. Wish he played in a premiership.

[@shannonpincombe8485]

Yep....he missed out because his team went the biff rather than trying to win the '89 GF. Then he sucked balls in the other three GFs he played in. What a legend!! No silverware to his name in a team sport. Only a solo medallion...WAAH! Effing useless in my book. Over rated Hawthorn reject. Hahahaha! He went alright though, the old Gaz....got on the pills, the coke and killed a young girl with an OD. Got away with it too. Now he's suing everyone for brain damage. What a great bloke.

[@murrayreed2881]

What a pair of top blokes, love Ablett's attitude.

[@woundedPumpkins]

I'd never seen this before. Been a Geelong supporter my entire life. Absolutely love it, so thank you for posting this ... Gary Jnr is now the best player in the league and I don't begrudge him leaving Geelong ... For the money he was offered I would have grown wings and flew away that day ;-) He's the greatest player ever in my opinion Mr Senior. Thank You for everything you gave me as a child.

[@franticredge7517]

Now he is back home. With one chance to win a premiership in his last game :)

[@AshBhang2010]

Best I've ever Seen .

[@lkentonon]

inject gary Ablett smiling up at his kids on his lap into my heart

[@jockojockoson9995]

Probably best to keep the needles away from him.

[@johnrichards2711]

What a gem. Gazza, the greatest player I have ever seen interviewed by the greatest Demon of all time RDB 31.

[@adammckenzie8769]

Greatest era the game will ever see!!! And the greatest of them all.....

[@oopsidazy143]

Absolutely adorable 🥰

[@SusanWillan]

I used to play snooker with Gary at the Grovedale hotel when he was working there he was that good you never got a shot in

[@johnlane35]

The best of the baby boomers and most creative forward who ever played. One of the few forwards who actually got out and got his own kicks being interviewed by the best of the previous generation and the creator of the modern ruck rover. Two great Victorians

[@somebodyiusetoknow4092]

As a hawk supporter he torch defenders in this day an age still!

[@romo4150]

Ablett’s in the air!!😎

[@MrMyz123]

If only people like Gary where not preoccupied and well compensated and adored for playing games like football, and professional sports ,

[@greyman003]

The best in my life time.

[@raffaelearmenio8321]

Speaks very well when he chooses to does gary, if he chose to could be a terrific public speaker considering the problems that have happened in his life and the messages that he could portray to others

[@malcolmwasher2308]

Great player

[@mickv2tshaw187]

Absolute legends

[@therealovidox]

WOW I saw the Alex popescu room in this video and then goggled it and it's a Romanian guy 👦 who provided the wood to help build the stadium and even pay staff during a hardship period.

[@PorkChopExpress86]

Wearing that coat, in the house , gold😂😊

[@georgemelitsis2607]

Legend

[@Mookie70]

And Gary Ablett Jnr turned to be quite handy himself

[@richardguthrie3422]

He always kicked a big bag of goals against Richmond.

[@macca2342]

His boys will struggle as players especially that Gary Junior.

[@ledmau5]

i wonder if his eldest son Gary Jnr ended up succumbing to the pressure?

[@footylovr]

I believe it was a knee injury which ended Snr's career.

[@travman9268]

ledmau5 watch this weeks grand final geelong v richmond and see if his son succumbed to the pressure .

[@XilifyYT]

@@travman9268 his shoulder didnt

[@brendanh8193]

@@XilifyYT And he played on with a broken shoulder blade, with no injections to dull the pain. Absolute hero.

[@Kevin-x9g2b]

RIP Ronald Dale

[@gregbuckenara8063]

In All Honesty,the Ablett family will ALWAYS be Hawks.Irrespective what Jumper they wear.But I am glad Gary Jnr is playing at Geelong.Our Regards and Best Wishes to ALL the Ablett Family. Greg Buckenara.

[@TheKranick]

His pupils are MASSIVE during the interview

[@VideoAssociates]

Ablett SNR, best player to ever grace the game AFL

[@ed897]

1:02 little Gary Jnr in the middle!

[@victoryline5689]

Ablett>>>>>who ever you like. Greatest player to ever play and it isn’t debatable.

[@blake.henderson]

Ablett was way way before his time in how he dealt with footy abs life in general

[@jamesleon2770]

What an intellectual man

[@verusvaga2017]

I wonder If Ablett Jr could have played NBL?

[@pantera6343]

He seems like the type of guy who be giving you a bashing and at the same time apologizing to you

[@darrenjray]

He was! Just ask Garry Lyon.

[@jonburrows9816]

@@darrenjray Just like Brownless would love to pound Lyon's head in. Garry Lyon, Mr. Angel. Please......

[@Greg-yq5sc]

Summed him up to a tee imo. If he hadn't been a successful pro footballer he'd have been a crim. Not a mastermind but an 'articulate' standover guy..."now can you please tell me where the stash is....or do want another one? (i.e king-hit).

[@Linco37]

That’s a dangerous spot 😂😂

[@TheAlmightyClipse]

7:05 Interesting take by Gaz Sr there, talking about how "footy has changed over the last 10-15 years" in terms of physicality and him alluding to it being "softer". This interview was in 1996!! So let's think about how much softer it's gotten since 1996 to present day 2021!?? The rules now suck too, man on the mark rule. Marks were paid a lot easier in the 90's too.. It's crazy how much the game of Aussie rules has evolved.

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

Love the opening song if god was one of us so true

[@protoindoeuropean]

Rest in peace Natasha

[@xanthromera]

I enjoy lecturing others about social decay,, and then feeding young girls heroin, cocaine and assorted drugs.. And then when they die I go into hiding but still don't even get charged.. RIP Alicia Horan.

[@xanthromera]

@Outlaw FTW Some years back this idiot went on a 4 day drug bender with a 20 year old girl who was either the daughter of a family friend or a friend of one of his sons. Ablett was around 40 at the time. He gave the girl a cocktail of drugs including heroin which he told her was cocaine. They were in a motel and went to sleep. In the morning Ablett found the girl dead and absconded only to hand himself into the police with his solicitor 5 days later. Ablett was never charged and yet is responsible for her death. A few years later he gets the centre pages of the Herald Sun newspaper telling everyone about how sinful they are and how this has led to social decay, blah blah.. Fucking hypocrite moron. A few years ago he was interviewed by a prominent journalist who said Ablett had his mobile phone wrapped in tin foil so nobody could listen in on him. The bloke should be permanently incarcerated in a mental facility.

[@lorenzobrasco7678]

@Outlaw FTW cops wife, murdered a colleague so his missus could keep job

[@zodiac6968]

@@xanthromera We all have a past.

[@ghostshipone]

@@zodiac6968 cats fan?

[@zodiac6968]

@@ghostshipone No, Blues. Ablett best player iv'e seen though.

[@dpatterson7256]

That's a dangerous spot 😂

[@chris8534]

Boy some great comments there on family issues on society.

[@owen4491]

"I think it's time that government tried to get to the cause of things, rather than treat the symptoms".. All these years later nothing has changed!!

[@marlenereiffel7201]

Garry you should by very proud of Garry Jnr it's a shame that Nathan never played for Geelong.

[@thewacokid5477]

Nathan won more flags for Geelong than his father.

[@Matt-cp9wh]

gazza ablett jnr and snr the greatest players of all time

[@inthedesert2008]

Just noticed Ablett looks a lot like Ser Bronn of the Blackwater.

[@piendawg]

Ron Barassi asked if he gets white line fever......... Ummm no comment

[@ma3stro681]

😂

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

sniff This is great sniff

[@lockay101]

Good on ya Gazza

[@kenny-gee]

Did his boys ever end up playing Aussie rules

[@chrisF351]

Jill singer, wtf happened to her?, i remember she started doing today tonight when it debuted on 7 then after a short while she just disappeared

[@greyman003]

She died in 2017.

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

He actually retired a year later

[@jessehenthorn3948]

And now he’s delivering groceries

[@horrormaestro3468]

G.O.A.T

[@FamousByFamily]

is it just me or does the narrator keep say GARY ABBOTT?

[@OU812apb]

It's Bronn, Lord of the goddamn reach!

[@crazysithslave]

Mustve got the new kid to do the music for this

[@badm.d]

I love all the old ladies who cant accept this is gary ablett. ahahah it is him

[@andrewandy137]

Had Gary Ablett stayed a Hawthorn player all of his career before moving to Geelong I think Hawthorn would have won 7 flags instead of 4 in that 80s decade.

[@footylovr]

It would be a frightening proposition and probably the best forward line ever assembled in VFL/AFL history. By the time Brereton's body would break down, Ablett would very likely take over that position. Dunstall & Ablett, along with Jarman, Hudson . . . . brilliant!

[@andrewandy137]

@@footylovr Yes definitely. It would have been a great side to watch and this is coming from a North Melbourne supporter. I've always had a soft spot for Hawthorn as they are sort of my second team. It goes back to the rivalry North had with Hawthorn in the mid to late 70s. Watching players like Peter Knights, Leigh Matthews, Malcolm Blight, Keith Greig, Phil Baker, in the same games for me were always great games to watch back in the day. I wish Gary Ablett would have been a North player, playing along side Wayne Carey . Hypothetically that would have been great to see as well. And the great Leigh Matthews was a North supporter as a kid, I wish he played for North along side Blight,Greig, Schimma. Would have won 3-4 flags between 1975-1983 instead of 2 flags in that period

[@footylovr]

@@andrewandy137 I had a chat with Denis Pagan about this topic not too long ago. Just to get an idea of how Pagan's Paddock would have played out and he said when you have players of that ability, they just find a way to naturally work it out together. From a speculative view point, one would envision Carey playing a bit deeper than we he did. Ablett would roaming up the wing and half forward flanks with Carey isolated one-on-one which would have been game over for most defenders. Having said that, Longmire/Carey worked out pretty well. And so did McKernan/Carey for that matter.

[@andrewandy137]

@@footylovr Yes agreed the Longmire Carey McKernan combo worked really well at North during the Pagan era. I wish Adrian McAdam could have become a consistent star player at North. His first season of 68 goals in 17 games was just awesome. He potentially could have become one of the greatest indigenous half forwards of all time had he kicked on from his 1993 season .

[@footylovr]

@@andrewandy137 McAdam, what a freak. Always disappointing seeing such talented individuals walk away before their careers even kicked off. Darren Wheildon, Allen Jakovich, Nathan Ablett, quite a few more in earlier era's gone by. Of course, on the flip side, we have missed out seeing the same brilliant type players who succumbed to early career-ending injuries.

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

Rip alsia abblet

[@schwayzejohnson8866]

"blighty showed me how to play"

[@jackallen9459]

Top 5 Players 1. Gary Ablett Jnr 2. Leigh Matthews 3. Gary Ablett Snr 4. Ron Barassi 5. Graham Farmer

[@joelc17]

lol if you top 5 doesnt include carey its a joke of a list.

[@jackallen7514]

joelc17 Well I agree Carey was an exceptional player, I would probably take out Farmer or Barassi for Wayne but I stick by it

[@eddyeddy8946]

top5 1.ablett snr 2.ablett jnr 3.carey 4 . Lockett 5.hird

[@icedearth1ful]

Carey....best ever

[@suicidebysasquatch4873]

@@icedearth1ful very over rated

[@floodwaters8887]

The girl that overdosed with him would have been 14 when this interview was taken

[@FrankHampster]

Whomever wrote the subtitles for this needs a hearing test

[@lukeanthony3609]

Turned into a full blown nut

[@michaelorchard1338]

Football players getting high and playing footy been going on for years in the 70 speed use was rampant widespread and tolerated don't tell me otherwise inside information .

[@ASTONVILLATHAILAND]

Gary tablet

[@Jack671975]

Funny the 2 boys will win a premiership.

[@JJ-wi2uw]

Apparently he could play football.

[@21macca21]

Chopper said Geelong prison is a dirty old hole 🤣 Why does the narrator keep calling him Abbot ?

[@hellopolly2691]

This interview reminds me of how tedious AFL really is.

[@carncats07]

And yet here you are watching it. The rest of your life must be even more tedious.

[@brianw5439]

Dont worry gary jr didnt feel the burden of the name i some how think!

[@rich7851]

plays pool like Darrell Kerrigan

[@edmac3651]

He was good but he wasn't at the same level as Dustin Martin, was he?

[@rogerramjet7246]

Both damaging powerful players that stood in a class of there own . You can’t judge a player solely on Brownlows , Norm Smith , Flags whatever . Wayne Carey is considered amongst the top few of all time and he doesn’t have Brownlow or Norm Smith either .

[@mitochondriac5946]

Dusty all day

[@suicidebysasquatch4873]

Dusty can't mark over head whereas Ablett could do it all.best I've seen and I'm a Richmond man..

[@stuartcallaghan1375]

You’ve got to be kidding me surely?!?! Martin doesn’t have one single attribute over the great man. If they went one on one against each other Gary would destroy him. It’d be like a boy playing on a man. Gary was an explosion of biological evolution. A once in a century athlete. A phenomenon. And I follow Carlton.

[@BS21BS21]

Shut up gronky

[@varrjames186]

His daughter ended up in the nut house a few times and she kept escaping!

[@aussieg1107]

The greatest junkie to pull on a boot

[@shannonpincombe8485]

BS!! Dunstall was better, so was Plugger...and Hudson. Since Gary there have been many who are better. Sam Mitchell, Kouta, Pendles, Dusty, Hodge, Buddy....even back in day Gary Ablett snr wasn't the best player. Wayne Carey dominated games the same way....as did defenders even. He was good but nowhere the best. He'd to be better than Lethal and Tucky to do that. Just one thing...how many flags did Ablett snr win? Argument over.

[@geosid1696]

Yep flying HIGH and produced the goods on the footy field as a self achievement. As a Pie supporter all my life, always saw the positive in his sportsmanship and onfield tough performance. Off field shenanigans!!! Well, I cannot comment on his lifes journey as a person back then. Great player in his time loving Coke who 20 years before may have been sponsored him when Coke was real Coke Cola. Still a champ in an era of harden up men playing for self-preservation and success.

[@nathrogers7]

Nope, it just turned out it was all the guns.

[@robosborne5489]

Gary Ablett Snr might be a 1st rate footballer ,but he is 3rd rate human being leaving that poor young women to die. I think Gary Jnr is a far better player and most importantly a far better man than he will ever be

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

So what was still the Greatest footballer yes he was no angel his son surpassed him

[@littemisscarrage2909]

anyone for fish, how about some mullet

[@peterjackson3805]

Tigers next coach ? Or wait for Scotty end of 2024

[@jacksonhalliwell7621]

Ahhm but AHH yeah AHH

[@basilbean4428]

It looks like he's pushing 45 not 35!