It’s forty years since Barry Davis famously lifted North Melbourne’s first premiership cup, but the memories are still fresh for the 1975 team.
On Wednesday, nine players joined coach Ron Barassi and president Allen Aylett at Arden Street to celebrate on one of the finest moments in the club’s proud history.
Centreman John Burns has fond recollections of the era and in particular, his former coach.
“There were so many different personalities in that team. Every player says that about a premiership side, but I can tell you they didn’t have Sam Kekovich, Brent Crosswell, blokes like that,” Burns told The Herald Sun.
“Then there were the elite, Barry Davis and Doug Wade, and the goodie goodies. Sam Kekovich would give most of today’s coaches a breakdown. But Ron Barassi worked us all out.
“What people are saying about him now is true. It isn’t and wasn’t all about Ron, for he embraces the game and others codes. The bigger the challenge the bigger the result and the more he gets out of it. Naming the AFL premiership cup is something the AFL should definitely have a look at. Celebrate him while we can.”
RELATED: Gallery - 1975 reunion
Burns, who played 95 games for the club between 1973-1978 before joining Geelong, admitted it wasn’t all rosy behind the scenes.
“I was a cheeky little prick and I used to fight with Ron, even if deep down I loved him to death. Still do,” Burns said.
“But he (Barassi) was smarter than me. I had some ability and Ron knew that but he also knew I was a slack-arse so after my first full season in 1974 he said, ‘I don’t think you’ll get a game next year’. I couldn’t believe it.
“So I trained my guts out and had a good year in 1975 plus the Grand Final (20 possessions including four first-half goals from the centre). So after the game I gave him the old two fingers and he just smiled. I thought I could outsmart people but he completely worked me out, did me like a dinner. I thought he was a total genius for doing that and will love him forever.”
PRESS PLAY above to watch the 1975 reunion video | YouTube
Davis was also quick to praise the two-time premiership coach.
“I wasn’t sure about him at first because I remembered him as a player when he was just in your face all the time. But as a coach I got to like him more and more as time went on. It’s the same now, he’s someone I like being around,” Davis said.
“Because I had a fitness background I would do some things a bit differently and he would always want to know why. I would explain and often he would say, ‘That’s a good idea’. He was always open to improving his mind. He would always be open with team selection, taking advice from others on the match committee. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Burns and Davis joined teammates Peter Chisnall, David Dench, Garry Farrant, Barry Goodingham, Frank Gumbleton, Ross Henshaw and John Rantall for a tour of the club’s facilities, before stepping foot on the Arden Street surface for a trip down memory lane.
The achievements of the 1975 premiership team will be celebrated again as part of the build-up to the Round 5 clash against Hawthorn on Saturday May 2. All players and administrators will be reunited on the night of the game.
