Australian Football

Selected by Fitzroy with pick 25 at the 1992 National Draft, John Barker debuted for the Lions two years later. A solid and resourceful footballer, his three season stint with Fitzroy coincided with the closing phase of that club’s autonomous history as it merged with Brisbane. Barker was one of seven players to join the newly christened Brisbane Lions but his one season stint with the club yielded just eight appearances and one goal to supplement the 47 games and 12 goals managed with Fitzroy.

After the 1997 season was over, Barker was traded to Hawthorn where he enjoyed the most noteworthy phase of his playing career, although towards the end of his time with the Hawks he was badly hampered by injuries. He was particularly prominent in a 2001 season which saw him top the club’s goal kicking list with 47 major and run third in the best and fairest count. In 2000-1-2 Barker was the principal attacking option for Hawthorn and produced some impressive performances. When the curtain came down on his career in 2006 he had played 113 games for the Hawks and booted 114 goals. During the closing phase of his career he also fronted up with Box Hill, Hawthorn’s de facto reserves team, on occasion. 

After retiring as a player he became a highly respected coach, particularly at Carlton where he was involved from 2011 to 2012, including a brief stint as stand-in head coach of the seniors.

Author - John Devaney