The AFL world is in mourning after sad confirmation on Saturday that former Brownlow Medal winner Barry Round has died at the age of 72. The Footscray, South Melbourne/Sydney Swans and Williamstown great passed away on the Gold Coast after being admitted into palliative care recently. The Herald Sun reported that he died as a result of organ failure.

Round made his debut with Footscray (now the Western Bulldogs) in 1969, and played 135 games for the club. He played 193 games with South Melbourne/Sydney from 1976-85, and coached and played for Williamstown in the VFA.

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It was in Sydney where the ruckman really made a name for himself during a brilliant spell between 1980-1985, where he played 193 games and shared the Brownlow Medal with former Footscray teammate Bernie Quinlan in 1981.

The former star ruckman will be remembered as an icon of the AFL/VFL, with one of his most important achievements being the way he galvanised the player group following South Melbourne’s move to Sydney in 1982. Alongside his loyal deputy Mark Browning, Round convinced the players that the relocation to Sydney was the only option for the club’s long-term survival.

“The early days of the Swans in Sydney, after their painful relocation from the Lake Oval in Melbourne, were incredibly challenging for the club as they sought to generate a new fan base and establish themselves at the SCG,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“In a turbulent period as the club battled to build its new life and the competition itself grappled with the first stage of expansion four decades ago, Round held the player group together with his larger-than-life personality.

“Under his leadership, and because of his leadership, the Swans fought huge obstacles to lay down a foundation that sees them today as one of the great clubs of the AFL.”