‘A champion from head to toe’: Former Brownlow medallist Barry Round dies aged 72

Former Brownlow medallist Barry Round has passed away at the age of 72.

Round played 328 games across his VFL/AFL career, comprised of 135 games for Footscray, 193 for Sydney and 110 for Williamstown.

He was a two-time best and fairest winner at Sydney and captained the side between 1980 and 1984, being named in the Swans’ team of the century.

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Round’s family confirmed the news on Saturday.

In 2001, Round was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and in 1981 won the Brownlow Medal, tying with Bernie Quinlan.

He was Williamstown’s premiership captain and coach in both 1986 and 1990 and was in 2014 inducted into the club’s inaugural Hall of Fame, then elevated to Legend status on the same night.

“Barry Round was a giant of a man, in more ways than one,” Williamstown Football Club president Ashley Baker said on the club’s website.

“In his presence everyone stood taller. He gave so much of himself both on and off the field. His undeniable footballing talents will forever be etched into the history of our Club and the game of Australian Rules. There is no doubt he is a true icon of the Williamstown Football Club and we are incredibly fortunate that he called our Club home. We are saddened to lose him and send our deepest condolences to the Round family.

‘On behalf of the Williamstown Football Club I would like to pass on our deepest condolences to the Round family. The Seagull family is mourning the loss of a club legend and a gentleman who gave so much to our great game and our wonderful club.

“A dual premiership winning player, J.J Liston Trophy winner, Norm Goss Medal recipient, three-time Gerry Callahan Medal winner and WFC Team of the Century and Hall of Fame inductee says it all. Barry will be missed by so many and we have lost a true champion of the game’.”