WHEREVER Ron Barassi is, you can be sure that there will be a delighted audience, gathered to share stories and grab an autograph.

It was no different heading into the Melbourne vs GWS game, when Barassi took his place in the Demon Shop, seated in front of the newly released 1956 collage print by Owen Abrahams that is gaining much attention (and is for sale, in both small and large sizes), ready and willing as always to share a moment, a story and some quality time with other eager members of the Melbourne Football Club family.

Amazingly, Barassi - who on reckoning has signed ‘somewhere up around 20,000 autographs a year for about fifty years? - I think that would be about right!’ has attached personal messages to the majority.  He has also stopped for countless photographs, and added his own little twist in relatively recent times with the ‘17410’ - seventeen Grand Finals for ten premierships (six with Melbourne, two each with Carlton and North Melbourne), after seeing Tony Lockett undertake a similar exercise, adding his goal kicking record to his autograph.

What makes the whole exercise all the more special is that Barassi understands the importance of an autograph, particularly to youngsters, from way back in his own childhood.  ‘I saw a whole group of children dashing towards Test cricketer Ian Johnson, and I asked my mother what they were doing.  She explained to me that they were getting an autograph, and that you could collect them.  I liked the sound of that, so I asked her if she could get one for me!’  While not having the ideal material to hand, Elza Barassi adapted to the situation and soon had her son’s connection to autographs started.  Undoubtedly, neither of them realised then that it would be such a dominant part of his life from the other side of the signing process.

Now, all those decades down the track, his name and any message always clear and easy to read - ‘I see some of the autographs today and they’re just squiggles! - the Barassi autograph is a treasured part of our story, and one that will always remain at the heart of our heritage.