When Harold ‘Hassa’ Mann first arrived at Melbourne Football Club at the age of 18, he likely never imagined that it was the beginning of a lifetime of service to the club: as a player, captain, and later, an administrator.

Since 1959, Mann has had a front row seat to the storied history of the football club, and was frequently a participant in some of the club’s most dramatic moments.

Mann spoke to Mike Sheehan in the latest episode of the Legacy Series, and reflected on his historic life.

“When you think of it…I’ve been involved in the three biggest upsets in the club,” Mann said.

“I took over as captain when Ron Barassi went to Carlton, I was captain when Norm Smith was sacked as coach, and I was involved in the merger [in the mid-1990s].”

Mann reminisced on his relationship with the late, great Ron Barassi AM, whom he succeeded as captain in 1965.

“In my first year when I played in the Premiership, Barassi came up to me as an 18-year-old, put his hand on my shoulder, and said ‘Mate, I won’t let you down’,” Mann said.

“He was dynamic, success-oriented, and was probably one of only a couple of players that could change the game off his own boot.

“I was very close to Ron, although I copped the blast as many players did when Ron felt that we weren’t meeting the standards that he set.”

Mann shared his recollection of the dismissal of Norm Smith in 1965, with the legendary coach receiving a termination note by courier on the eve of Round 13.

“How can you come to grips with that…look at his record. From a captain’s perspective, we never anticipated anything like that,” Mann said.

“I was talking to Norm on the phone, when it happened. Through the phone, I heard the doorbell ring.

“Norm would ring every Friday night to explain how we were going to play and what tactics we were going to use. When the doorbell rang, he excused himself and when he came back, he was crying.

“[My wife] Glenys and I jumped in the car and drove straight over, and we opened the door to find Norm and his wife Marj crying, so Glenys and I joined in.”

In the turbulent 1990s, Mann served as CEO from August 1992 to May 1997.

“It was the most difficult period of my life…I lost friendships within the club,” Mann said.

“It was felt that football had changed a lot in the 1990s…the money increased, and the salary caps started increasing. We viewed the next five years as very important from a financial point of view.

“We felt that it was important that we improved the playing list, and one of the ways that it could be done was a merge.”

Through the success of the 1950s and 60s, the challenges of the 90s and the great highs of the 2020s, Mann’s contribution to the Melbourne Football Club is immeasurable. What sets him apart, however, is his quiet humility.

“I owe everything that I’ve achieved in life - business and sport - to the Melbourne Football Club and I’ll never forget that.”