Ron Barassi’s impending 80^th birthday has this week triggered a tremendous response from Carlton people wishing to share precious photographs of the great man from his early days as senior coach more than 50 years ago. 

Amongst the generous donors is Sharon Woodford, who unearthed this incredible image of Barassi extolling the virtues of the Carlton Football Club to Darrell Crosswell and his precociously-gifted son Brent, within the confines of the Crosswell family home in Campbelltown Tasmania in 1967.

The photograph, in which a sartorially-splendid Barassi makes the concerted pitch to get “Tiger” over from Tassie, was originally forwarded to Sharon’s mother Betty O’Toole by Brent’s mother Ruby, a long-time friend.

The back of the photograph reads in part: “Barass when he first came for Brent in our kitchen (it’s all changed now) with Darrell the fat one . . . ”.

The incredible image of Barassi extolling the virtues of the Carlton Football Club to Darrell Crosswell and his precociously gifted son Brent.

Whatever the great Ronald Dale said obviously resonated with father and son, as Crosswell – at 17 years and 250 days - debuted for the senior team in the opening round of 1968 against Geelong.

It would be the first of 98 games over eight seasons at Carlton for Crosswell, which took in the Grand Final triumphs of 1968 and ’70.

Woodford’s links with Carlton were forged when the club’s 1961 Brownlow Medallist John James returned to Robinvale.

“John bought a fruit block up there and taught me at primary school,” she said.

“My family was close friends with John and Maureen James and I was never going to follow any other team than Carlton.”

Regrettably, Woodford can shed little more light on the photograph. As she said, “Brent’s Mum had sent the photo to my Mum to share the big moment with her. That’s all I know”.

Crosswell, whom former Premiership rover and club best and fairest Adrian Gallagher is on record as saying was arguably Carlton’s greatest finals player, followed Barassi to North and also featured prominently in the 1975 and ’77 Grand Final triumphs.