John Barker (Australian footballer)

John Barker was born on 19 February 1975. Barker played junior football for Pascoe Vale in the Essendon District Football League. Here Barker played in the 1991 Under 16 premiership winning team. In 1992 Barker played for the Northern Knights in the first season of the VSFL under 18 competition. Barker also represented Vic Metro (Metropolitan Victoria) in the Teal Cup and was named at centre half forward for the Victorian Under 18 All-Star team. Barkers' form at Under 18 level attracted plenty of interest from AFL club scouts. In the 1992 AFL Draft John Barker was selected at pick 25 by the

Fitzroy Football Club.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

Barker did not play a senior game for Fitzroy in 1993 and missed most of the season due to back and hamstring injuries. Barker's first senior game in the AFL was in round 2 of the 1994 season against Essendon at Princes Park. Barker played 47 games and kicked 12 goals at Fitzroy over his 3 seasons at the club. During the 1994 AFL season Barker's talent was noticed and as a result he picked up an AFL Rising Star award nomination. Barker was one of eight players to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy's AFL operations were taken over by the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

In Barker's only year at the Brisbane Lions, the 1997 season, he managed just 8 games and only 1 goal. At the end of the season Barker and teammate Nathan Chapman were traded to Hawthorn in exchange for Brad Scott.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

After two seasons at Hawthorn Barker's AFL career looked over, but in round 3 of the 2000 AFL season, John Barker made his mark as an AFL footballer. Barker kicked 4 goals and took some clean one-grab marks to help the hawks come from behind to beat the Brisbane Lions in a thriller (Hawthorn 16 14 110 def. Brisbane Lions 15 13 103).{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

Barker's time at Hawthorn saw him become the key option up forward during the 2000, '01 and '02 seasons.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

John Barker may best be remembered for his remarkable two goals during the 2001 semi final against Port Adelaide. One from Football Parks "dead pocket" which put the hawks within four points. Then the next with only two minutes remaining, the goal which will long live in the minds of Hawks fans for years to come. Barker was a key part of the Hawks' 2001 season which saw them make their way to a preliminary final. Barker won the club's goal kicking award in 2001 with 47 goals and was equal 3rd in the Best and Fairest.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

From mid-2002 Barker suffered numerous injuries and struggled to get back to top form. From this point he played most of his football recovering from injuries and proving his fitness with the Box Hill Hawks(Hawthorn Reserves) in an attempt to play at senior level again.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

2006 would be John Barkers final year as an AFL footballer and he could just manage 7 games due to on-going shoulder and hamstring injuries. In the week leading up to round 20 of the '06 season Barker announced his retirement, saying his body could no longer stand up to AFL football. In the lead up to the final game of the season several Hawthorn players offered to give up their spot in the side to see that Barker could play a farewell game. Barker kicked 1 goal in the 61 point win against Geelong.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/John%2BBarker/13308|title=JOHN BARKER|access-date=21 April 2022}}

After Barker announced his retirement, Hawthorn senior coach Alastair Clarkson said the club was keen to retain Barker for 2007, possibly in a coaching role. Just weeks later, Barker was appointed as assistant coach in the position of the forward line coach for the St Kilda Football Club on a two-year deal under St. Kilda senior coach Ross Lyon who had played together with Barker at Fitzroy and Lyon believed Barker had a lot to offer as a coach. Barker served as assistant coach of St Kilda in the 2007 season and 2008 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/954397/john-barker-to-depart-blues|title=John Barker to depart Blues|date=7 June 2021|access-date=29 June 2022}}

After two years at St. Kilda, Barker was then offered an assistant coaching role at Hawthorn Football Club and jumped at the chance to return to the club he called home for nine years as a player. Barker was the assistant coach in the position of forward line coach at Hawthorn under senior coach Alastair Clarkson for the 2009 season and 2010 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/954397/john-barker-to-depart-blues|title=John Barker to depart Blues|date=7 June 2021|access-date=29 June 2022}}

Barker went to be an assistant coach at the Carlton Football Club since the 2011 season.[http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/104137/default.aspx John Barker Joins Carlton] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121230113001/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/104137/default.aspx |date=30 December 2012 }}, carltonfc.com.au, 14 Oct 2010. Retrieved 9 Sep 2012. On 26 May 2015, following the mid-season sacking of Mick Malthouse as senior coach of Carlton, Barker was appointed caretaker senior coach of the Carlton Football Club until the end of the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-caretaker-coach-john-barker-a-tale-of-perseverance-20150526-gh9zmr.html|title=Carlton caretaker coach John Barker a tale of perseverance|work=The Age|first=Jon|last=Pierik|date=26 May 2015|access-date=22 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-26/malthouse-sacked-by-carlton-after-afternoon-board-meeting/6497650|title=Mick Malthouse sacked by Carlton after a loss of trust between Blues and veteran coach|date=26 May 2015|access-date=November 19, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/mick-malthouse-sacked-as-coach-of-carlton-20150526-gh9ptc.html|title=Mick Malthouse sacked as coach of Carlton|date=26 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/malthouse-sacked-as-carlton-afl-coach|title=Malthouse sacked as Carlton AFL coach|date=May 26, 2015|access-date=November 6, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/mick-malthouse-sacked-carlton-axe-afls-longestserving-coach/news-story/3324ff290a1ccd9ecaa8aea527a23be7|title=Mick Malthouse sacked: Carlton axe AFL's longest-serving coach|date=26 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/26/mick-malthouse-sacked-as-carlton-coach|title=Mick Malthouse sacked as Carlton coach after 'loss of trust' at AFL club|date=26 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2015/05/26/mick-malthouse-sacked-carlton-coach/|title=Mick gone: Malthouse sacked as Carlton coach|date=26 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2022}} He coached the club to three wins from the final fourteen matches, and was one of the front-runners for the senior coaching role before it eventually went to Brendon Bolton, therefore Barker was not retained as senior coach of Carlton at the end of the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/john-barker-setting-the-standard-for-blues-as-carltons-caretaker-coach/news-story/382fcb718a7fca6e85fa25b73b1d6386|title=John Barker setting the standard for Blues as Carlton's caretaker coach|date=27 June 2015|access-date=31 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/john-barker-tells-mark-robinson-hell-do-whats-best-for-carlton/news-story/1b37bc86dd2a3a1d084c1728578fe11c|title=John Barker tells Mark Robinson he will do what's best for Carlton|date=31 July 2015|access-date=31 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2015-08-25/bolton-appointed-carlton-senior-coach|title=Bolton appointed Carlton senior coach|publisher=carltonfc.com.au|first=Loretta|last=Johns|date=25 August 2015|access-date=22 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/25/hawthorn-assistant-brendon-bolton-expected-to-be-named-carlton-coach|title=Hawthorn assistant Brendon Bolton confirmed as new Carlton coach|date=24 August 2015|access-date=30 March 2022}} Barker, however still remained at the Carlton Football Club as an assistant coach in the position of stoppages coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2015-09-30/meet-carltons-2016-coaching-panel|title=Meet Carlton's 2016 coaching panel|publisher=carltonfc.com.au|date=30 September 2015|access-date=22 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blueseum.org/John+Barker|title=John Barker|access-date=31 March 2022}}

Barker departed the Carlton Football Club in the middle of the 2021 season, amid an external review the club had decided to undertake, to improve its on-field results.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/10year-blues-coach-quits-amid-club-review/news-story/1db3c960dc368576cf8efede9ac81355|title=10-year Blues coach quits amid club review|newspaper=News.com.au|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=November 7, 2021|last1=Zita|first1=David}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/blues-assistant-barker-resigns-will-depart-during-bye-20210608-p57z14.html|title=Carlton board facing fresh challenge|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=31 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/954397/john-barker-to-depart-blues|title=John Barker to depart Blues|date=7 June 2021|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/carlton-blues/afl-news-2021-carlton-review-john-barker-resigns-sacked-david-teague-coaching-staff-reasons-for-leaving/news-story/744deb1923d7b55a44d975845eaa102c|title=First Blues casualty as key coach quits amid club review|date=8 June 2021|access-date=2 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/628169/long-time-blues-assistant-john-barker-quits-effective-immediately|title=Fallout begins: Blues assistant quits, effective immediately|date=8 June 2021|access-date=2 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/06/08/report-carlton-assistant-coach-to-depart-the-club-immediately/|title=CARLTON ASSISTANT COACH TO DEPART THE CLUB IMMEDIATELY|date=8 June 2021|access-date=2 June 2024}} Fellow Carlton Football Club assistant coach Luke Power who was serving in the assistant coaching position of Head of Development, then replaced Barker in the role of the assistant coaching position of stoppages coach, therefore Power was promoted to a higher assistant coaching position within the Carlton Football Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/628871/triple-brisbane-premiership-midfielder-luke-power-will-step-up-to-carltons-coaching-panel|title=Triple premiership Lion to step up to Carlton's coaching panel|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2021}}

Barker in his ten year tenure as Carlton assistant coach served under senior coaches Brett Ratten, Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton and David Teague. {{cite web|url=https://www.blueseum.org/John+Barker|title=John Barker|access-date=17 September 2023}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111726/http://www.saints.com.au/TheClub/Coaches/CoachProfile/tabid/8594/coachId/109/teamId/39/Default.aspx John Barker Coach Profile] on the official St Kilda Football Club website
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{{Hawthorn leading goalkickers}}

{{1994 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{1992 AFL national draft}}

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Category:1975 births

Category:Box Hill Football Club players

Category:Brisbane Lions players

Category:Fitzroy Football Club players

Category:Hawthorn Football Club players

Category:Northern Knights players

Category:Carlton Football Club coaches

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:Living people