Tweet
Getting things back on track
Barry kicks new goals
18 July 2003 AFL
By JON ANDERSON
BY THE end of season 2000, Sydney's Leo Barry knew the writing was on the wall.
He had ended the season playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL and his AFL career was at the crossroads at age 23 after 66 games in six years.
Barry had heard the rumours he would be involved in a swap-deal for Carlton's Aaron Hamill.
Then came the change, the decision that would provide the spark to ignite Barry's career.
Coach Rodney Eade said it was time for Barry to learn about the game by following some knowing forwards to the ball.
To the backline he went to learn how and when to lead. That was almost three years ago and in the backline he's remained.
Barry is now regarded by his coach Paul Roos as one of the competition's premier rebounding defenders in a stark contrast to the battling forward of three years ago.
Back in those days he was known for his leap, hence the "Leaping" Leo Barry tag bestowed upon him by Channel 7's Sandy Roberts.
It was Eade who instigated the move to defence, a person Barry credits with having a big influence on his career.
"Rodney Eade helped develop my game in the last couple of years he was at the club," Barry said.
"He was very good tactically, the way he rotated players through the midfield."
Barry was a player Sydney earmarked at 15 years of age when he was still living on his parent's rice farm just outside Deniliquin.
He was taken to boarding school in Sydney by the Swans and completed his final two years of schooling at Riverview College.
He used those two years well. He has recently completed a degree in sports science and is now studying marketing and business in the hope of one day moving into sports management.
Now 26, only Daryn Cresswell, Daniel McPherson and Brad Seymour have been with the club longer, Barry having played his first game at age 18 in 1995.
"This is my best season although things, other than a ruptured spleen last year, have been going OK since the end of 2000," Barry said.
"Roosy (coach Paul Roos) likes Tadhg Kennelly and me to run, link up and break opposition teams.
"When you think about it, he was very good at it himself."
The surprising fact about Barry is his height, or lack of it ? he stands just 184cm.
But he plays tall as they say today, having lined up this year on players such as Ben Graham and Ray Hall.
Roos encourages Barry to run off his bigger opponents and the sight of the left-footer bouncing the ball out of defence has been a feature of Sydney's exciting play this season.
"Paul Roos has got the most out of the young guys this year and he has a good way of empowering players," Barry said.
Barry kicks new goals
18 July 2003 AFL
By JON ANDERSON
BY THE end of season 2000, Sydney's Leo Barry knew the writing was on the wall.
He had ended the season playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL and his AFL career was at the crossroads at age 23 after 66 games in six years.
Barry had heard the rumours he would be involved in a swap-deal for Carlton's Aaron Hamill.
Then came the change, the decision that would provide the spark to ignite Barry's career.
Coach Rodney Eade said it was time for Barry to learn about the game by following some knowing forwards to the ball.
To the backline he went to learn how and when to lead. That was almost three years ago and in the backline he's remained.
Barry is now regarded by his coach Paul Roos as one of the competition's premier rebounding defenders in a stark contrast to the battling forward of three years ago.
Back in those days he was known for his leap, hence the "Leaping" Leo Barry tag bestowed upon him by Channel 7's Sandy Roberts.
It was Eade who instigated the move to defence, a person Barry credits with having a big influence on his career.
"Rodney Eade helped develop my game in the last couple of years he was at the club," Barry said.
"He was very good tactically, the way he rotated players through the midfield."
Barry was a player Sydney earmarked at 15 years of age when he was still living on his parent's rice farm just outside Deniliquin.
He was taken to boarding school in Sydney by the Swans and completed his final two years of schooling at Riverview College.
He used those two years well. He has recently completed a degree in sports science and is now studying marketing and business in the hope of one day moving into sports management.
Now 26, only Daryn Cresswell, Daniel McPherson and Brad Seymour have been with the club longer, Barry having played his first game at age 18 in 1995.
"This is my best season although things, other than a ruptured spleen last year, have been going OK since the end of 2000," Barry said.
"Roosy (coach Paul Roos) likes Tadhg Kennelly and me to run, link up and break opposition teams.
"When you think about it, he was very good at it himself."
The surprising fact about Barry is his height, or lack of it ? he stands just 184cm.
But he plays tall as they say today, having lined up this year on players such as Ben Graham and Ray Hall.
Roos encourages Barry to run off his bigger opponents and the sight of the left-footer bouncing the ball out of defence has been a feature of Sydney's exciting play this season.
"Paul Roos has got the most out of the young guys this year and he has a good way of empowering players," Barry said.
Comment