BARNES, John

John Barnes was a crowd favourite who played 58 games for Essendon in an AFL career that spanned 15 seasons.

He was a promising young ruckman who came to Essendon from Cobram after making All-Australian selection in the Teal Cup (now TAC Cup).

He debuted for Essendon in Round 10, 1987, and finished the season with six games. Opportunities were few for Barnes owing to Essendon's strong ruck brigade and he played only two games in each of the next three years for a total of 12 games in those four seasons. In 1991 he played eight Reserves games but injury ruined much of his year.

At the end of 1991 Barnes was traded to Geelong for Sean Denham in a deal that worked well for both clubs. At Geelong Barnes became their number one ruckman and he remained there for eight seasons, playing in 144 games for 65 goals and appearing in three (losing) Grand Finals.

In 1999 Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy believed Barnes had something to offer Essendon and he was picked up in the 1999 draft and returned to Windy Hill. He proved a successful recruit, playing well in tandem with ruck team-mate Steve Alessio. In the all-conquering 2000 Essendon team Barnes played in all 24 rounds and eventually won the premiership medal that had proved so elusive at Geelong when the team beat Melbourne in the 2000 Grand Final.

Barnes played 22 games for Essendon in 2001 and retired at the end of that season but remained at the club as runner until 2007. In 2008 he became runner for the Western Bulldogs and in September that year he was appointed coach of the local club Doutta Stars.