Michael Barlow

Barlow grew up in regional Victoria town of Shepparton. He was educated at Notre Dame College, Shepparton before finishing his schooling as a boarder at Assumption College, Kilmore.

Unlike most players in the AFL, Barlow did not play in the TAC Cup as a junior,{{cite news|url=http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/barlow-docks-at-fremantle-to-begin-afl-voyage/|title=Barlow docks at Fremantle to begin AFL voyage|last=Mallinder|first=Terry|date=21 December 2009|work=Leader News|access-date=16 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113525/http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/barlow-docks-at-fremantle-to-begin-afl-voyage/|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}} but instead played for Shepparton United in the Goulburn Valley Football League, where he represented Victoria Country in 2007 as a 19-year-old. Barlow also won Shepparton United's best and fairest at age 19 before moving to the Victorian Football League (VFL) at the end of the 2007 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.shepparton.com.au/shepparton-news/2007/6/16/teenager-jumps-in-size-and-reputation/|title=Teenager Jumps In Size And Reputation|last=Daffey|first=Paul|date=16 June 2007|work=The Age|access-date=16 March 2010}} He moved to play for the Werribee Football Club in the VFL in 2008. He had a very successful season in 2009, having moved from the forward line into the midfield,{{cite news|url=http://wyndham-leader.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/michael-barlow-set-to-follow-trend/|title=Michael Barlow set to follow trend?|last=Mallinder|first=Terry|date=30 November 2009|work=Wyndham Leader|access-date=16 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206010531/http://wyndham-leader.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/michael-barlow-set-to-follow-trend/|archive-date=6 December 2009|url-status=dead}} winning Werribee's best player award, the Fothergill–Round Medal as the league's best young player,{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/barlow-aims-for-afl-after-stellar-season/2009/09/04/1252001247357.html|title=Barlow aims for AFL after stellar season|last=Diamond|first=Brent|date=5 September 2009|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=16 March 2010}} came second in the 2009 J. J. Liston Trophy for the league's best and fairest player,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/sewell-wins-jj-liston-trophy/story-e6frf9jf-1225773269440|title=Sewell wins J.J. Liston Trophy|last=Mitchell|first=Chris |date=15 September 2009|work=Herald Sun|access-date=16 March 2010}} and was named in the VFL's Team of the Year in both 2008 and 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/mcphee-no-draft-shock--but-eagles-spring-a-surprise-20091215-kt4d.html|title=McPhee no draft shock - but Eagles spring a surprise|last=Clarke|first=Tim|date=15 December 2009|work=WA Today|access-date=16 March 2010}}

File:Michael-Barlow-Rd-9-2014.jpg

After training with St Kilda during the 2009 pre-season and with Essendon after the 2009 season,{{cite news|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/barlow-in-line-for-instant-dockers-debut-20100316-q9z2.html|title=Barlow in line for instant Dockers' debut|last=Clarke|first=Tim|work=WA Today|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=16 March 2010}} Barlow was drafted to Fremantle Football Club with their first selection in the 2010 Rookie Draft—the eighth overall. He was one of eight players from the VFL selected in the rookie draft. Alex Silvagni was also drafted to Fremantle from the Casey Scorpions.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/docker-signings-could-help-set-a-trend-20091226-lfs1.html|title=Docker signings could help set a trend|last=Diamond|first=Brent|date=27 December 2009|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=16 March 2010}} He also continued the trend of Fothergill–Round medallists being rookie listed, with all bar one of the previous seven winners being selected in the rookie draft: Michael Firrito (2002), Aaron Davey (2003), Adam Fisher (won the medal in 2004, rookie listed in 2003),{{cite book|title=AFL Record: Guide to season 2005|editor=Lovett, Michael|publisher=AFL Publishing|location=Melbourne|year=2005|pages=446|isbn=0-9580300-6-5}} Jason Davenport (2006), Shane Valenti (2007) and Robin Nahas (2008).

After performing well in Fremantle's three NAB Cup pre-season games,{{cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/michael-barlow-leads-fremantles-rookie-charge/story-e6frg1wu-1225833140332|title=Michael Barlow leads Fremantle's rookie charge|first=Michael|last=Washbourne|work=PerthNow|date=22 February 2010|access-date=16 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224070433/http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/michael-barlow-leads-fremantles-rookie-charge/story-e6frg1wu-1225833140332|archive-date=24 February 2010|df=dmy-all}} Barlow was promoted to Fremantle's senior list as a nominated rookie, enabling him to play throughout the 2010 AFL season.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/dockers-elevate-michael-barlow-from-rookie-list/story-e6frf9jf-1225841475424|title=Dockers promote Michael Barlow from rookie list|date=16 March 2010|work=Herald Sun|access-date=16 March 2010}}

He made a successful debut for Fremantle in the opening round of the 2010 AFL season, gaining 33 possessions and kicking two goals, and was named as one of the best players on the ground.[http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/barlow-stunning-as-fremantle-shock-the-crows-20100328-r5cu.html Barlow stunning as Fremantle shock the Crows] It was the most possessions gained by a player on debut since the AFL's official data partner, Champion Data, began collecting statistics in 1992, beating Bradd Dalziell's 32 possessions in 2008.[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/michael-barlow-proves-instant-hero-for-fremantle-dockers/story-e6freck3-1225847171451 Michael Barlow proves instant hero for Fremantle Dockers] In his first Derby (R6 2010), Barlow was awarded the Ross Glendinning Medal for being the best player on the ground. His game consisted of 10 kicks, 15 handballs, 4 marks, 8 tackles and a goal.[http://www.afl.com.au/Premiership/MatchResults/tabid/11433/default.aspx?display=3&seasonid=75&roundid=749&fixtureid=5290 AFL Official Stats]{{dead link|date=September 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

A broken leg ended Barlow's season in Round 14 against Port Adelaide: late in the final quarter of the game, an awkward collision with teammate Rhys Palmer saw Barlow cleanly break both the tibia and fibula in his left leg, a few inches below the knee.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/barlow-unlikely-to-play-in-2011/story-e6frf9jf-1225887775099 Michael Horan] Michael Barlow surgery a success, retrieved 5 July 2010

He was awarded the Best First Year Player Award at the 2010 AFL Players Association awards, despite missing 8 home and away games due to his broken leg.

After missing the first 12 rounds of the 2011 home and away season recovering from his broken leg, Barlow made his comeback in the Dockers round 13 clash with Melbourne at the MCG, after playing 2 games of WAFL football over the previous 2 weeks. Barlow gathered 25 disposals to be one of the Dockers best in the huge 89-point loss to the Demons in what was deemed a successful return to AFL football. However, he missed the following two games against Brisbane and the Gold Coast with soreness in his leg. He returned as the substitute in the round 17 clash against Sydney at the SCG, collecting 11 disposals after being activated on to the ground at three-quarter time.

Barlow finished off the season strongly from then on, playing every game onwards and averaging just over 24 disposals. Although his form wasn't quite as stellar as his debut season, it was an impressive return to football.

Leading up to the 2012 season, Barlow again faced difficulties with his rebuilt leg, experiencing more soreness weeks before the season began. He missed the whole pre-season competition and returned as the substitute again in the opening two games against Geelong and Sydney. Since then his form improved, with his best performance occurring in the Round 14 clash with Collingwood, where he collected a career high 37 disposals. He finished 9th in the club's best and fairest award, the Doig Medal.{{cite web|title=Crowley wins 2012 Doig Medal|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2012-10-07/crowley-wins-2012-doig-medal|website=fremantlefc.com.au|access-date=23 June 2017}}

He continued to be a key part of Fremantle's midfield in the following years, finishing seventh{{cite web|title=Fyfe wins the Doig Medal|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2013-11-17/doig-medal-winner|website=fremantlefc.com.au|access-date=23 June 2017}} and sixth{{cite web|title=Fyfe goes back-to-back|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2014-11-15/2014-doig-medal-winner-|website=fremantlefc.com.au|access-date=23 June 2017}} in the Doig Medal in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

At the conclusion of the 2016 AFL season, Barlow was delisted by Fremantle.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/michael-barlows-docker-days-over-searching-for-new-club|title=Barlow's Docker days over, searching for new club|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=24 October 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=29 October 2016}} He subsequently joined {{AFL GC}} as a delisted free agent.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/michael-barlow-joins-gold-coast-suns-as-an-afl-delisted-free-agent/news-story/0980e2e62e7e343b0a274f35f034bb37|title=Michael Barlow joins Gold Coast Suns as an AFL delisted free agent|last=Waterworth|first=Ben|date=8 November 2016|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=8 November 2016}}

Barlow had played in every game for the Suns in 2017 until he again broke the fibula in his left leg whilst being tackled by Bryce Gibbs during a match against Carlton in round 13.{{cite news|last1=Hamilton|first1=Andrew|title=Barlow to 'play plenty more' despite broken leg|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/michael-barlow-broken-leg-gold-coast-suns-say-they-expect-ex-docker-to-play-plenty-more-football-ng-b88510489z|access-date=23 June 2017|work=The West Australian|date=18 June 2017|language=en-AU}}

Barlow was delisted by the Suns at the end of the 2018 season.[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-28/outoffavour-suns-ballmagnet-barlow-delisted afl.com.au]

In October 2018, Barlow was announced as a playing assistant coach with original VFL club Werribee for 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.werribeefc.com.au/news/all-stories/1051-michael-barlow-returns-to-werribee|title=Michael Barlow returns to Werribee|website=www.werribeefc.com.au|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-10-23}}

In 2021, Barlow was appointed head coach of the Werribee Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Barlow's 2 year coaching journey in South Western Melbourne helped {{VFL Wer}} end their Grand Final drought and helped players such as Shaun Mannagh earn their spot on an AFL list.{{Cite web|title=Shaun Mannagh from heaven: Why Cats plucked 26 year-old from VFL |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1066583/shaun-mannagh-from-heaven-why-cats-plucked-26-year-old-from-vfl |date=21 November 2023 |access-date=2 January 2024 |publisher=afl.com.au}} At the end of the 2023 season, he left to join {{AFL NM}} as a Development Manager.{{cite web |title=MICK IS ON THE MOVE |url=https://www.werribeefc.com.au/news/801-mick-is-on-the-move |publisher=Werribee Football Club}}

Barlow joined the North Melbourne Football Club and replaced Gavin Brown as their new Head of Development ahead of the 2024 AFL season.{{cite web|title=Former Docker joins Roos' after impressive VFL stint |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1048321/former-docker-joins-roos-after-impressive-vfl-stint |date=2 October 2023 |access-date=2 January 2024 |publisher=afl.com.au}}

Team

• McClelland Trophy (Fremantle) 2015

Individual

• 3× Ross Glendinning Medal: 2010, 2013
• Beacon Award Winner: 2010
• AFLPA Best First-Year Player: 2010
• Fremantle 25 since ‘95 Team'
• Fothergill–Round–Mitchell Medal: 2009

: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Michael_Barlow.html Michael Barlow's player profile at AFL Tables]

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|-

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 13 || 15 || 3 || 150 || 212 || 362 || 66 || 66 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 11.5 || 16.3 || 27.8 || 5.1 || 5.1

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 9 || 4 || 8 || 83 || 134 || 217 || 32 || 37 || 0.4 || 0.9 || 9.2 || 14.9 || 24.1 || 3.6 || 4.1

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 24 || 8 || 14 || 310 || 275 || 585 || 103 || 124 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 12.9 || 11.5 || 24.4 || 4.3 || 5.2

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 24 || 14 || 13 || 302 || 334 || 636 || 100 || 142 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 12.6 || 13.9 || 26.5 || 4.2 || 5.9

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 19 || 18 || 9 || 255 || 250 || 505 || 111 || 97 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 13.4 || 13.2 || 26.6 || 5.8 || 5.1

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 24 || 16 || 9 || 253 || 297 || 550 || 116 || 103 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 10.5 || 12.4 || 22.9 || 4.8 || 4.3

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Fre}}

| 21 || 13 || 6 || 2 || 133 || 185 || 318 || 45 || 79 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 10.2 || 14.2 || 24.5 || 3.5 || 6.1

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL GC}}

| 20 || 12 || 10 || 8 || 131 || 174 || 305 || 53 || 48 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 10.9 || 14.5 || 25.4 || 4.4 || 4.0

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL GC}}

| 20 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 37 || 41 || 78 || 21 || 8 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 12.3 || 13.7 || 26.0 || 7.0 || 2.7

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 141

! 92

! 68

! 1654

! 1902

! 3556

! 647

! 704

! 0.7

! 0.5

! 11.7

! 13.5

! 25.2

! 4.6

! 5.0

|}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{GCplayer}}
• {{AFL Tables}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}
• {{WAFL FootyFacts}}

{{AFLPA best first year player}}

{{Ross Glendinning Medal}}

{{2010 AFL rookie draft}}

{{2010 AFL national draft}}

{{Fothergill–Round Medal}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barlow, Michael}}

Category:Living people

Category:Fremantle Football Club players

Category:Gold Coast Football Club players

Category:Peel Thunder Football Club players

Category:Werribee Football Club players

Category:Shepparton United Football Club players

Category:1987 births

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:Sportspeople from Shepparton

Category:Werribee Football Club coaches

Category:People educated at Assumption College, Kilmore