John Barker to play on 1 more year

RustyHawk

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Thread starter #1
Reported in Friday 2.12.05 Herald Sun

"Barker to front up again
02 December 2005 Herald Sun
Damien Barrett and Michael Stevens

JOHN Barker will play on for another year at Hawthorn after surviving a torturous conditioning program.

Barker, 30, and the Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal.

After the injury-plagued forward managed just 24 matches from the past three seasons, the club insisted Barker prove his fitness before committing to a contract."


One thing we definately lacked in 05 was leadership on the forward line. Hopefully JB can show the new boys a thing or 2 about playing CHF, making position and kicking goals.

Good luck to him.
 

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#2
I DO luv JB but im dissapointed at the clubs faith in him, hasnt done anything since 2001, body is shot and has a wider turning circle then my 89 camry! would much prefer to see a youngling given a go. WILL Breakdown b4 halfway point of the season and wont even be there in 2007. cant see the point of it and please dont say for "expeirence and a mature body" and to "teach the kids" which translates into, a haz been who's older then most other players and is therefore assumed to have a good footy brain.
 

Hawkk

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#3
Its more a loyalty thing. I mean you cant just show the youngsters that you dont give a ******** about them this will affect them later when we have salary cap problems.

Its one spot on the list we still have alot of passengers anyway.

Im sure John can add much needed leadership skills to the forward line.
 

LoneStar

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#4
Hawks have been waiting about five years for JB to get fit and have a big year. As Father Time continues to chase him down, it seems more and more unlikely that JB can have that injury-free year. Too bad - because his star was shining brightly for a very brief time a few years ago. I think the Hawks should give JB a goal of about 11 games. If he makes it...good job. If they get anything extra...it would be icing on the cake. But I doubt if it's possible at this point.
I know Bohdan Babijczuk took a lot of the blame for the number of injuries the Hawks suffered during his tenure. But the Hawks had a lot of injuries other than JB in 2005 as well, eventhough the total number of soft-tissue injuries was reportedly lessened.
This would be JB's second preseason under Andrew Russell. If Russell can get JB right for most of a complete season and allow some of the potential we saw a few years ago to be displayed, then he and Peter Burge would have to be classified as witches!
 

medusala

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#5
The guy wouldnt be playing for much so the risk reward ratio is heavily in the clubs favour. If he plays 15 games then the Hawks will comfortably do better than last year.
 

cs61

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#6
Have some faith in the new fitness team before making assumptions that he can't get through the season. They have had him training 5 days a week since late last season, and put him through some gruelling sessions to make sure he proves himself. They have worked hard building his body up and Russell said its very unlikely for a player to break down after completing a certain amount of pre-season training.

They definately understand the benefits of Barker running around for another season, and I'm happy to be optimistic about it at the moment.
 

OneEyedHawk

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#7
Definately a good thing for the club.:thumbsu:

The effect of having a seasoned, experienced tall around to guide the young blokes shouldn't be under-estimated. After JB, the only big bloke with any sort of experience is Croady, who has predominantly been a backman.

The club sound like they've put him through some rigorous testing, and seem confident he can hold up for 1 more year.
As well as being a terrific clubman, a fit Johnny Barker straightens up the team immeasurably.

I can understand peole's skepticism on his body holding up, but he wouldn't be on huge $$ and we are hardly mortgaging the house on him.
 
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#9
As much as i'd love to have out there at 100% ,i think we're flogging a dead horse here ,the guy's body is shot and has been for some time.Bad decision to give a young bloke like Kirkby the flick so fast and keep persevering with JB ,he has let us down so often with his injuries the last few years (not that it's his fault) but IMO it's time for him to call it quits for good.
 

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cs61

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#12
Busterthehawk

Don't you think the club may be in a better position to judge to chances of him getting onto the park? They wouldn't send him out there if they just thought it was 50/50 him lasting the season. He may break down of course, always a chance any player may break down, but they believe there is a good chance he'll last out a season, and he is definately worth chancing an arm for if that is true.
 
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#13
cschreuder61 said:
Busterthehawk

Don't you think the club may be in a better position to judge to chances of him getting onto the park? They wouldn't send him out there if they just thought it was 50/50 him lasting the season. He may break down of course, always a chance any player may break down, but they believe there is a good chance he'll last out a season, and he is definately worth chancing an arm for if that is true.
I like many others here have met the guy at various family days and he is a great guy and no doubt ,a terrific clubman and it is a crying shame that he hasn't been able to get on the park of recent years ,but having said that ,i think a large part of our poor showing since 2001 has to a large extent been due to our over reliance with no backup on JB & Dutchy .We have the opportunitie to rebuild our important HF line completly and put that chapter behind us now and i don't see any use in taking any more chances with JB he is 30 and it's not like he is all of a sudden going to rid himself of his plethora of soft tissue injuries at that age.
 

swift24

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#15
Ill help you answer it, of course the club does, and if they didnt think he could add anything in 06 they wouldent have offered him a contract, I was at training today and he was having a ball, leading strongly holding his marks and joking around with the players and spectators. He not only brings skill and experience to our forword line, he also brings a different feeling on matchdays not only for us, for the players aswell, he is an inspiration and they all love him, his comeback game in 03 i think lifted the boys spirits and we got over the line and that match was dedicated to him, so just his prescence out on the field is enough for me to want him to play on.
 

Mr.Likeable

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#16
I can't really believe what I'm reading here.

The man is a gun.

Quick on the lead; takes contested marks; kicks beautifully and creates a bit of mayhem with his combination of speed and stamina. And X Factor to boot.

The last time he played regularly he was very nearly All-Australian Centre-Half Forward. What more can he do?

Sure, he's been injured for years, but AA CHF's are not easy to find and most of them play well into their thirties.

Last year, in the game against Brisbane, he provided a large part of the buzz that the youngsters picked up on.

If he's available, he plays...

Whenever he's on the ground, he will necessarily draw a quality defender, and that's only going to allow Willo, Buddy, Roughie, Boyle etc. a little more room to flex themselves.

WELCOME BACK JB. FINGERS CROSSED FOR YOU GOOD BUDDY.
 
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#18
Mr Likeable - to quote the big Meatloafer, you took the words right out of my mouth about JB.

Terrific player and clubman. I was watching a game from early this season and he took a one grab mark with a very good backman (Mal Michael I think) hanging all over him.

Two or three of them a game would be perfect for our much maligned forward structure.

He is due for a change of fortune, and all he can do is get the very best pre-season behind him (already started beautifully) and get out there and lead our young guns.
 

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#20
Antonius said:
So is Barker going on for just one more year? He is worth another 2 in my book.
It makes business sense to offer him one, see how he goes in 06 and if we think he can get through 07, offer him another year.
 

Gary Shadforth

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#21
What I like about JB is he sets examples to the kids in strategic thinking. Even though he is limited nowadays in pivotal maneuvering of his body he is a thinking man's footballer, he has that uncanny ability of sneaking away from a minding backman. The other big plusses are he can take a big contested grab and he thrives on kids around him making all the right moves. He is quick on the scene to encourage them with a great fatherly smile on his pleasant dial.
 

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#22
Can't recall seeing him have a significant impact on game for about 4 years.
Frankly, largely the same arguments we raised for releasing Hay apply in this instance too. The one massive difference is that Barker has far greater natural ability and skill, which is why we've retained him.

He used to be a gun - recently he's only been able to fire 25-30% of the time. Hence the combination of speed and stamina is a throwback to 2001.

Antonius - Two year contracts in this instances would be ridiculous, mattyc2422's on the money there. If his body comes good and he plays the majority of games for the majority of the time, then keep him on again. If not, then pension him off and get one of the 2nd year players to step up in their 3rd.
 
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