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Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 2, 2009 8:59:09 GMT 9.5
AFL legend Barassi bashed in attack
January 2, 2009 - 4:44AM
AFL legend Ron Barassi was knocked down and kicked in the head early on New Year's Day after he went to the aid of a young woman who was being attacked by a man.
Barassi, 72, suffered bruising to his head in the incident in busy Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, but he was not taken to hospital.
The former star AFL player and coach saw the woman in distress after he left a restaurant where he had been having dinner with friends, including America's Cup-winning skipper John Bertrand, about 12.30am (AEDT).
After intervening, he was kicked in the head as he lay on the ground.
"If you see a woman being belted up, you step in. It's like when a kid is being bashed. It's not right," he told the Herald Sun newspaper.
"I'm okay. I went for my 5km walk today. It'd take more than a prick like that to stop me."
Barassi said he did not report the attack to police because he was not injured and was not even sure if there was one or more attackers.
Barassi played in six VFL premiership teams between 1955 and 1964 with Melbourne and coached Carlton to premierships in 1968 and 1970, before switching to North Melbourne and coaching them to their first flag in 1975 and another in 1977.
He later returned to Melbourne as coach and also coached the Sydney Swans.
He has been named to the AFL hall of fame.
© 2009 AAP
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Post by thelion on Jan 2, 2009 14:36:26 GMT 9.5
Met him when I was a Kid on the Happy Hammond show on channell 7. However what was he doing on Fitzroy street at that time of night. For those who dont know let us say that lamp posts are held up by young women there at that time of night in considerable numbers.
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Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 2, 2009 20:49:14 GMT 9.5
However what was he doing on Fitzroy street at that time of night. According to the TV news he was having dinner with his wife at a restaurant owned by a friend of theirs, when he and his wife saw a woman being punched in the face by a young man.
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Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 5, 2009 7:50:31 GMT 9.5
Bashed woman thanks Ron Barassi for saving life
January 5, 2009 - 5:13AM
MELBOURNE - The woman rescued from a street attack early on New Year's Day by Ron Barassi credits the AFL football legend with saving her life.
Barassi, 72, tackled one of a number of thugs attacking mother-of-three Tess Green on Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, at about 12.30am (AEDT) on New Year's Day.
The mob turned on him, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground.
Ms Green, who appeared in a photograph with a swollen face and black eyes, told the Herald-Sun newspaper she feared for her life until Barassi acted.
"I'd like to thank Mr Barassi for daring to help," Ms Green said.
"He's a very brave man. A good man. There's not many of them around any more.
"I think if he hadn't jumped in it would have been worse for me.
"They took their focus off me and became more focused on him. I'm a bit upset over that. Mr Barassi stood up to them and they attacked him. That allowed me to get away.
"I feel terribly sorry about what happened to him."
Ms Green said the assault came after an argument at traffic lights in Fitzroy St. She and two female friends had watched the midnight fireworks from a hotel and were in their car at the lights near The Esplanade.
A group of men and women became agitated when the driver yelled at them for crossing the street in front of her, against the lights.
Ms Green's other friend got out of the car and was attacked, and Ms Green got out to help her.
Barassi suffered facial bruising, sore ribs and an arm injury.
Ms Green has a suspected fractured eye socket and a numb lip and will see a specialist at The Alfred hospital on Monday.
St Kilda detectives are investigating the incident.
AAP
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