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Barry Round, AFL great who won a Brownlow Medal and helped establish the Swans in Sydney, dies aged 72
- Barry Round died from organ failure at 72 as tributes poured in for AFL great
- Round began career playing for Footscray then turned to South Melbourne
- He captained Sydney Swans before becoming captain coach of Williamstown
AFL great and Brownlow Medal recipient Barry Round has died at the age of 72.
Round died from organ failure while receiving palliative care on the Gold Coast.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief as Round is remembered for his warm, humble, and generous spirit.
Round was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and earned the Brownlow Medal in 1981.
The AFL stalwart began his professional career playing for Footscray when he was just 19 years old in 1969.
AFL great and Brownlow Medal recipient Barry Round has died at the age of 72
Round died following organ failure with his death sparking an outpouring of grief as he is remembered for his warm, humble, and generous spirit
He played 134 matches for the team before he was sacked before the start of the 1976 season and picked up by South Melbourne and played 193 games for the team.
He notched a total of 328 VFL/AFL games under his belt with his illustrious career including a stint as captain of the Sydney Swans between 1980 and 1984.
Round was playing as skipper for the team when it moved to Sydney and he has been credited for helping to make the transition possible.
He retired in 1985 before he became captain-coach of Williamstown and led the team to the VFA Premierships in 1986 and 1990.
Former teammate Alan ‘Rocky’ Stoneham played with Round for Footscray and described him as ‘generous’.
‘I was honoured to have ‘Roundy’ as best man at my wedding,’ he said.
The AFL stalwart began his professional career in the sport playing for Footscray when he was just 19 years old in 1969
‘I’ve never met a more generous person, although he could be very dangerous to get in a drinking session with.
‘As a player he was just so smart and perfected the craft of forward ruck work resulting in goals long before Tom Hawkins made an art-form of it.’
News of the death has shocked the sporting world with tributes paid to Round.
Sydney Swans ambassador John Mangos said the AFL champion would be sorely missed.
‘Barry Round was a ripping good bloke with a heart the size of a lion,’ he wrote.
‘He was part of the backbone of the Sydney Swans. We will miss him terribly. Vale Big Fella.’
Round was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and earned the Brownlow Medal in 1981
Williamstown shared their condolences as the team mourned the loss of their former player.
‘It’s with great sadness we share the passing of club legend, Barry Round,’ the club wrote.
‘The Williamstown Football Club sends its deepest condolences to the Round family.’
More to come
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