Ronald James Barassi, the father of the legendary Ronald Dale Barassi, was 19th man in the 1940 Melbourne premiership side.
A few days after that teams 39 point triumph over Richmond in the 1940 VFL grand final. Ronald James set sail with the AIF for North Africa.
A year later he died at Tobruk.
He gave his life for freedom.
Geoff Fox, 20/07/2014
FOOTY FOR FREEDOM 