I caught up with Hassa Mann – Melbourne premiership player, Melbourne captain, captain-coach of South Fremantle, footy administrator and Melbourne FC board member – for the AFL Players Association. Hassa had influence and success wherever he went.
He looks back on his career.
About John Harms
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is publisher and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne). He appears (appeared?) on ABCTV's Offsiders. He can be contacted [email protected] He is married to The Handicapper and has three school-age kids - Theo, Anna, Evie. He might not be the worst putter in the world but he's in the worst four. His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition - to shoot his age.
Hassa Mann’s name is as familiar as Ron Barassi’s for those of us who were around as kids during Melbourne’s golden era. Right through my primary school life and into secondary school, Melbourne reigned and the names of their players were as familiar as players from my own team.
Footscray interrupted their premiership run briefly in 1954 and Collingwood in 1958, but that was it. I had just moved to the eastern suburbs when Melbourne dominated. Me with my Footscray jumper with the number 3 amongst a sea of kids with Melbourne jumpers. I might as well have been from another planet.
Wonderful interview. What a gem is Hassa Mann. Are the Dees still paying the price for sacking Norm Smith?
The Curse of Norm Smith….
I was born in 1955 and while my family supported Geelong and Richmond I grew up supporting Melbourne.
I can remember going to my grandparents house so that I could watch Barassi on TV – we didn’t have a TV.
I really enjoyed the talk with Hassa someone I remember from that time.
I now live in Brisbane and a member at the Suns but your talk with Hassa brought so many fond childhood memories.
Like he said though it is sad that it is 51 years since the Dees last Premiership.
I have vague memories of Norm Smith leaving Melbourne but didn’t recall that he was sacked by telegram after winning a Premiership the year before and winning 8 of the first 10 games.
Can anyone imagine a coach today winning 8 out of the first 10 games and being sacked?
Thanks so much for refreshing the memories, John