With a clear eye on success, administrators Allen Aylett, Albert Mantello and Ron Joseph had armed the Kangaroos with a new batch of stars through clever use of the short-lived Ten-Year Rule. North's administration set out with suitcases of thousands of $20 bills to buy players. Proven champions from clubs throughout the country including Malcolm Blight, Barry Cable, John Rantall, Barry Davis and Doug Wade were lured. Yet they had now spent the club's allocation of Grand Final tickets which they later had to account for. This meant taking out a $30,000 bank loan against their own houses.
However, it required a coach of Barassi's quality to pull all the elements together into a winning formula and the miracle worker didn't disappoint. He led North to its first VFL premiership just three years later. The Kangaroos went on to win another premiership in 1977, but very nearly had their dream crushed after giving up a late lead against Collingwood in the second ever drawn VFL grand final. Within a week, Barassi had picked his side up from the disappointment and led it to a memorable triumph.
Drawing on interviews from all the greats and some of the best archival footage available, this film reveals just what it takes to become a footy legend.
