Australian Football

Originally from Queenstown in Tasmania, where he played for local club Linton, Victor Barwick was wooed to the mainland by St Kilda in 1903. Supremely skilled and built like a miniature tank, he was extremely highly regarded in his day, with team mate Dave McNamara describing him ‘a true champion’.

Barwick played for most of his career as a rover, and captained the Saints in 1905 and 1909. He represented the VFL in 1904, and would surely have done so on many more occasions had there been more interstate games played at the time.

After seven years with St Kilda, Barwick left to join VFA side Brighton, but the 1913 season saw him back with the Saints as the club mounted its most serious and sustained challenge yet on the premiership. Unfortunately, it appears that Barwick was past his best as a player, and he failed to make the Saints team for the finals, which culminated in a narrow challenge final loss to Fitzroy. During the VFL phases of his career Vic Barwick played a total of 105 games and kicked 66 goals.

Author - John Devaney