Global InformationLeo Barry information
| Leo Barry | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 19 May 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Deniliquin, New South Wales | ||
| Original team(s) | Deniliquin (NSW) | ||
| Debut | Round 22, 3 September 1995, Sydney vs. Collingwood, at SCG | ||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Back pocket, fullback | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1995–2009 | Sydney Swans | 237 (56) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2009. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Leo Barry (born 19 May 1977) is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL) with the Sydney Swans.
Originally from Deniliquin, New South Wales, Barry attended Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, before being drafted as a zone selection in the 1994 National Draft and making his debut in the final round of the 1995 season against Collingwood. For the next few seasons, he played in the forward line without consistency, struggling to find a place in an already strong forward line. He did, however, display an ability to take spectacular jumping marks, earning him the nickname "Leaping Leo".
In 2001, Swans coach Rodney Eade moved Barry to the backline, where he prospered. Despite being short for a full-back at 184 centimetres, he has successfully played on much taller opponents, making use of his leaping skills and using his body well. Regularly playing on opponents 10–15 cm taller than he is, Barry rarely had multiple goals kicked upon him. Barry's unique defensive ability was observed in 2004 when he kept 196-centimetre St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig to two handballs for the whole game (for this effort, he received three Brownlow Medal votes).[1]
Despite being only 184 centimetres tall, Barry was surprisingly strong, which was a useful attribute for him when facing taller opponents such as Fraser Gehrig, Brendan Fevola, David Neitz, Anthony Rocca, Chris Tarrant, Quentin Lynch, Matthew Lloyd, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw and Matthew Richardson.
Barry has twice been included in the All-Australian team, in 2004 and 2005.[2]
On 18 August 2009, Barry announced he would retire from football at the end of the 2009 season.[3]
Barry is now a portfolio manager at Fairview Equity Partners.
- ^ AFL Tables - Sydney v St Kilda - 06-Jun-2004 - Match Stats
- ^ "Ricciuto to lead All-Australian side". ABC News. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ Nicholls, Michael: Leo Barry announces retirement, AFL Online, 18 August 2009.