Trevor Barker

Trevor Graeme Barker (7 October 1956 – 26 April 1996) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

One of the VFL's pin-up boys with his teen-idol appearance, blonde hair and suntanned skin, "Barks" was one of the finest high marking players of his era, and although of slight build, his skill and athleticism were matched by raw courage and competitiveness. More than any other player before or since, he was the living embodiment of St Kilda's club motto Fortius quo fidelius (strength through loyalty), staying with his beloved club through the toughest period in its history, despite receiving better offers from other clubs. He currently holds the VFL/AFL record for the most career games without playing in a final, followed by teammate Geoff Cunningham.^[1]

After his early passing from cancer at the age of 39, St Kilda honoured Barker's memory by naming the club best and fairest award in his name. He was posthumously inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Early Life and Playing Career[]

Barker was one of two children born to Jack and Norma Barker. His father was a local football star, playing over 300 games for the Cheltenham Football Club, winning two club best and fairests and once finishing runner-up in the league best and fairest.^[2]

In February 1966, Barker's five-year-old sister, Katrina Margaret, died from complications caused by a congenital heart condition. According to Barker's mother, the grief of losing his younger sister remained with him his whole life.^[3]

Barker followed in his father's footsteps, playing football for Cheltenham and winning three consecutive club best and fairest awards - in 1972 in the Under 16s/17s team, then in 1973 and 1974 with the Under 18s.^[4] As Cheltenham was close to Moorabbin Oval, it was no surprise that Barker grew up barracking for St Kilda, and his boyhood dream was fulfilled when the Saints recruited him in 1975. After playing just one game in the reserves, Barker was selected on the half-forward flank for his senior debut in the Round 2 match against Hawthorn at Moorabbin Oval, wearing the number 25. After an even first quarter, in which St Kilda captain Barry Lawrence kicked four goals, Hawthorn took control and eventually won comfortably by 40 points. Barker had a respectable 15 touches and was named among St Kilda's best players in The Age on the Monday following the game.^[5]

Barker would play a further 17 games for the season to cement his place in the senior team. In 1976, which would be Allan Jeans' last season as St Kilda coach, Barker was moved to full back, where he was often matched on bigger-sized opponents.^[6] Excited by the challenge, Barker's athleticism, courage and competitiveness throughout the season resulted in him winning his first club best and fairest.

Club champion and premiership rover Ross Smith, who had served as assistant coach upon returning to St Kilda in 1975, took over as senior coach in 1977, but would last only one season in which the Saints finished bottom of the ladder with three wins and two draws. Smith was replaced with former Richmond premiership player Mike Patterson. The Saints began 1978 strongly, sitting in second place after seven rounds, but losses to stronger teams in the middle of the season saw them sink to tenth by Round 16. They then rebounded to win four of the next five games to sit just outside the Top Five, separated from fifth-placed Geelong by only two premiership points courtesy of their draw against Richmond in Round 3. In Round 22, the Saints hosted Carlton at Moorabbin, fully aware that if they could beat Carlton and Fitzroy won against Geelong, it would result in St Kilda's first finals appearance since 1973.

The Saints put in one of their finest displays in recent seasons, thoroughly outplaying the Blues in front of a packed Moorabbin crowd to win by 40 points. Barker racked up 25 kicks, 5 marks and 2 goals and was listed among St Kilda's best. Sadly for Barker and St Kilda, they were to miss out on finals action as Fitzroy were easily accounted for by Geelong. It would end up being the closest Barker got to experiencing finals football as a player. 1978 was also the only season in which he would play all 22 games.

By now Barker was one of the established stars of the VFL, and fortunately his coaches at St Kilda gave him free rein to launch at the ball, resulting in a career highlight reel that ranks alongside the great high-flyers of Australian rules football.

Barker was captain of the St Kilda Football Club from 1983 to 1986.^[7]

As he got older he would regularly miss games through chronic injury until he retired after the 1989 season.

The Saints went in to the Round 11 match at VFL Park against Footscray needing to win to keep their finals hopes alive, but in a tough game ended up losing by 8 points. Barker suffered concussion and a lacerated lip after he was accidentally kicked in the mouth by Bulldogs forward John Georgiades.^[8]

Coaching[]

Barker worked in the media for two years following his retirement in 1989 before embarking on what would be a short-lived but memorable coaching career with the Sandringham Football Club. After going through a playing career without experiencing the thrill of playing in a final, Barker was desperate to experience success as a coach. He instilled a selfless approach in the playing group and trained them hard, but also developed wonderful relationships with all his players.^[9] In three seasons, he led the Zebras to two VFA premierships in 1992 and 1994, winning an amazing 44 out of 58 games. In 1995 he returned to the Saints as an assistant coach to Stan Alves, taking charge of the reserves team and mentoring young players. The consensus is that had he survived cancer, Barker would have become one of the game's great coaches.

Statistics[]

^[10]

Death[]

Barker had to put his coaching career on hold midway through the 1995 season for health reasons. He passed away peacefully at the Linacre Private Hospital in Hampton on 26 April 1996^[11] of liver failure after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. He was 39 years of age.

Barker's funeral at the Moorabbin Town Hall was attended by 6,000 mourners, and he was later buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Cemetery, alongside his sister.

Legacy[]

His contribution to St Kilda, particularly in the 1980s when the club had severe financial difficulties, was significant.^[12][13][14] St Kilda's best and fairest award, instituted in 1914, is named the Trevor Barker Award as a mark of respect to his contribution to the St Kilda Football Club.^[15] Barker was named in the club's Team of the Century 1900–1999.^[16]

Barker was inducted to the St Kilda Football Club Hall of Fame in 2003, and upgraded to Legend status in 2013.^[17]

The home ground of the Sandringham Football Club was also named Trevor Barker Beach Oval, in his honour.^[18]

On 4 June 2019 Barker was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Crown Palladium. St Kilda champion and teammate Robert Harvey gave the introduction speech in honour of Barker:

“Never have I played with a guy who radiated passion and loyalty for his club like (Barker). He was renowned for his high marking, his blonde locks and often his lifestyle off the field. He was a true St Kilda champion.”^[3]

After a video tribute, Barker's mother Norma accepted the certificate from AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder.^[3] Tributes flowed from teammates and fans. Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who played under Barker for St Kilda's reserve team, had nothing but praise for his boyhood idol:

"Looking at him on the ground it was almost like seeing a polar bear in the Sahara, or a lion in the Arctic – he just stood out. He was a good-looking man and he was only medium-sized but he had amazing courage and he could virtually play anywhere.^[6] He was a brilliant and hard tackler ... but then you had the other extreme, which is the frilly bits in a game like the high marks, unbelievable skills — he was so clean. He just had everything and when you combine the ability to run and the courage that he had, he was the complete player. One of the most rounded, respected, hardest, talented, devoted, loyal players in the game.”^[3]

References[]

External links[]

• Trevor Barker's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Trevor Barker at AustralianFootball.com
• Trevor Barker's Burial Details at Find a Grave Memorial Website
• AFL Hall of Fame - Players