Australian Football

Edward Barry, invariably known as 'Son', took his bows with Essendon in 1896, which was the club's last in the VFA. The following year saw the establishment of the VFL, in which Essendon competed, and Barry went on to make a sterling contribution to the red and blacks' eventual premiership triumph.

A rover early in his career, he later became a half back flanker, the position he occupied when Essendon procured their next VFL premiership in 1901 courtesy of a 6.7 (43) to 2.4 (16) grand final defeat of Collingwood. A regular Victorian interstate representative, Barry was the fourth Same Old player, and the thirteenth in the League, to play in excess of 100 VFL games. When he eventually retired in 1905 he had played 131 VFL games and kicked 24 goals.

Author - John Devaney