Why is Trevor Barker not a "Legend"?

White Winmar · Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:30pm

With the recent induction of Tony Lockett as a club "Hall of Fame" legend, I was wondering why Trevor Barker has not been afforded the same honour? If anyone personified the club motto of, "Strength through Loyalty", surely it was the late and great St. Trevor. I know he didn't win a Brownlow medal, nor did he even play in a single final for the club, but his achievements cannot be measured by the usual standards.

He resisted many lucrative offers to switch clubs at a time when St.Kilda went through arguably its darkest decade, the dreaded eighties. He must have felt the frustration of being a champion player in a terrible side, as well as the insecurity of the club being under constant financial pressure and the threat of extinction. How easy would it have been to take the money and run, thereby fulfilling his personal ambition of playing in successful teams and having a realistic shot at a premiership, not to mention securing his future, financially?

No, Trevor resisted what many could not and remained a small beacon of hope for the St.Kilda faithful. He even sold back to the club the car he had won as part of a best and fairest win. All just to help balance the books. Trevor Barker is the essence of what makes team sports such a joy to be part of. Selfless, courageous to the point of recklessness, humble and a pleasure to watch whenever he played for his beloved saints. I know that whenever someone dies prematurely, there is a temptation to exaggerate their abilities and achievements. I think in Trevor's case, the opposite is true. Only those who knew him and watched him play, week in, week out, against incredible odds, will recognise his true genius.

I apologise if I've not familiarised myself completely with the rules for induction, or if this has already been discussed and will inevitably happen. If it hasn't, I feel a great injustice has been done to, in my humble opinion, the greatest saint of all. What do the rest of you think?

Beej · Post: # 963845Post **Beej** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:33pm

Agreed.

Trevor certainly personified our motto more so than Plugger.

starsign · Post: # 963854Post **starsign** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:39pm

He is and always will be in my book regardless!

AlpineStars · Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:39pm

If we did not have Barks through that time we may not even have a club now. Every 2nd jumper or dufflecoat sold had the number 1 on it.

stinger · Post: # 963856Post **stinger** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:40pm

he will get there....i'm positive on that....

dcstkfc · Post: # 963858Post **dcstkfc** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:44pm

stinger wrote:he will get there....i'm positive on that....

He may well be next.

Unless Harvs goes straight in as a legend.

chook23 · Post: # 963864Post **chook23** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:47pm

I presume we have a quota of Legends to hall of famers...........

Trevor was inducted along with the current (later 4 legends) into first crop of Hall of famers.

D. Baldock.........straight to Legend status
followed by Stewart/Jeans/Plugger (elevated)

Barker would be considered IMO by most to be below that four......
but not far

But in your opinion as stated in opening post he is number 1.

The panel that decides thinks otherwise at the moment.

AlpineStars · Wed 28 Jul 2010 7:57pm

In my time of watching the Saints, starting about 1979 there would be two legends above all others and they would be Harvs and Barker. IMO

bigred · Post: # 963876Post **bigred** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 8:07pm

Barker's legend is not just on field.

I am surprised he has not yet been elevated.

He deserves it.

Would be a nice thing to do while Jack is still around the place.

chook23 · Post: # 963888Post **chook23** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 8:30pm

bigred wrote:Barker's legend is not just on field.

I am surprised he has not yet been elevated.

He deserves it.

Would be a nice thing to do while Jack is still around the place.

Mentioned something similar in a thread last week.................but only 1 this function

and the panel chose Lockett.....

though the sentiment would be with Barks given his Dads health issues.

starsign · Post: # 963889Post **starsign** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 8:31pm

chook23 wrote:I presume we have a quota of Legends to hall of famers...........

Trevor was inducted along with the current (later 4 legends) into first crop of Hall of famers.

D. Baldock.........straight to Legend status
followed by Stewart/Jeans/Plugger (elevated)

Barker would be considered IMO by most to be below that four......
but not far

But in your opinion as stated in opening post he is number 1.

The panel that decides thinks otherwise at the moment.

yep depends upon the criteria and the numbers game whatever and where your coming from I guess

but I've been only following the RW&B for about 60 years or so, and have seen a few over that period, but ...
I was always bought up to believe from my died in the wool Sainter Grandfather ( who died at age 93 not ever witnessing a Saints Flag and then my Dad who witnessed one in '66 with me as a 21YO at his side ) that Dave MacNamara was a VFL/StKilda legend "personified" due to his great kicking prowess , now if that still has a place he would have to be up there with the great Cazaley as well ...and surely a "legend" is a legend" no matter what , particularly in the true sense of the word itself... and he appears in all VFL history material of any significance !!

( for the record Dad reconned Hayden Bunton was the best footballer he saw with the Doc a close second and I'm a Baldock/ Plugger /Harves trifecta man myself!)

chook23 · Post: # 963890Post **chook23** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 8:34pm

starsign

mentioned the same thing in discussions with other sainters

Barks/Lockett/McNamara would be the three considered this time round...
Lockett got the nod

note all three inducted into the first lot of Hall of Fame inductees in 2003

starsign · Post: # 963901Post **starsign** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 9:00pm

chook23 wrote:starsign

mentioned the same thing in discussions with other sainters

Barks/Lockett/McNamara would be the three considered this time round...
Lockett got the nod

note all three inducted into the first lot of Hall of Fame inductees in 2003

I'm gunna be a bit of a Devils advocate here but here goes.....

yep I mentioned earlier that Barks will forever be a legend for me but regardless of whatever criteria "they" want to go by , and he didn't have to leave the world prematurely to qualify for mine either!

just maybe we've got it all wrong on this one

the Oxford has it that a "legend" is .......

a person whose fame or notoriety makes him a source of exaggerated or romanticized tales or exploits

under the precise definition then should we be looking at the likes of Robbie Muir, Elvis Winmar (Jumper lifting ) "Boo" O'Dea, Breeny and "whatshisname the back-flanker who kicked the dog " as "TRUE" legends of the STKFC????
surely they are notorious!

(and I'm sure peeps could justifiably add to this quick list that comes to my mind on this sperm of the moment)

so it's up for debate and possibly the key elements of time and eventuality are essential keys for legendary status to become manifest !

favorite sons yes!! ....but "legends" per se is a different matter again one would think?

anyway it's all good and I just love anyone who pulled on a jumper and bled for the club as much as we long suffering fans have!!

WE are ALL legends!!

saintspremiers · Wed 28 Jul 2010 9:45pm

AlpineStars wrote:In my time of watching the Saints, starting about 1979 there would be two legends above all others and they would be Harvs and Barker. IMO

Fair dinkum?

you but them both above the great Plugger, who was a better player than either of Barks or Harvs.

I Love Peter Kiel · Wed 28 Jul 2010 9:59pm

Great post white winmar...

I just loved the guy...shared the feelings of Matthew Hardy in his book "Saturday Afternoon Fever".

Really couldn't believe it when I heard Trev had died!
At he lived to see the night Flag in '96!

AlpineStars · Wed 28 Jul 2010 10:08pm

saintspremiers wrote:
AlpineStars wrote:In my time of watching the Saints, starting about 1979 there would be two legends above all others and they would be Harvs and Barker. IMO
Fair dinkum?

you but them both above the great Plugger, who was a better player than either of Barks or Harvs.

In terms of legends of our club I do, Plugger is the best player I have ever seen but the other two gave us everything they could give. i don't know the crteria but to me loyalty would be a consideration. I am rapt to see Plugger back don't get me wrong but I would pick the other two ahead of him.

stinger · Post: # 963947Post **stinger** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 10:28pm

AlpineStars wrote:
saintspremiers wrote:
AlpineStars wrote:In my time of watching the Saints, starting about 1979 there would be two legends above all others and they would be Harvs and Barker. IMO
Fair dinkum?

you but them both above the great Plugger, who was a better player than either of Barks or Harvs.
In terms of legends of our club I do, Plugger is the best player I have ever seen but the other two gave us everything they could give. i don't know the crteria but to me loyalty would be a consideration. I am rapt to see Plugger back don't get me wrong but I would pick the other two ahead of him.

funny thing...plugger told me that banger was the best player he had seen.....later i think he added kelly alongside banger.....but he was tainted by then.....

bigcarl · Post: # 963953Post **bigcarl** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 10:33pm

Barker was a super player. Spectacular, courageous, quick, strong.

I'd expect him and Banger to be next up.

stinger · Post: # 963961Post **stinger** » Wed 28 Jul 2010 10:40pm

bigcarl wrote:Barker was a super player. Spectacular, courageous, quick, strong.

I'd expect him and Banger to be next up.

barker was the most consistent and best high mark for his size that i have every seen......

Enrico_Misso · Thu 29 Jul 2010 12:24am

Love Barks.
No question he will become a Legend.
So will Harvey in due course, once he is eligible to join the HoF.

But, temperamental/difficult as he may be, there is no doubt Plugger is the most exciting player we have had in the 40+ years I have been following them.

Plugger is a total legend.
Even our current players were hanging around him like schoolboys such is his reputation and magnetism.

He deserves to be there just as much as Jeansie, Doc and Stewart.
And deserves to be there ahead of TB and Banger.

bozza1980 · Post: # 964037Post **bozza1980** » Thu 29 Jul 2010 10:26am

There is no question Barker is a legend of our club.

At the end of the day this will eventually be officially recognised by the hall of fame.

I can't fault those that have been inducted before him but he will be just as deserving once recognised.

yipper · Post: # 964052Post **yipper** » Thu 29 Jul 2010 11:08am

stinger wrote:
bigcarl wrote:Barker was a super player. Spectacular, courageous, quick, strong.

I'd expect him and Banger to be next up.

barker was the most consistent and best high mark for his size that i have every seen......

Had magnificent hands, great judgment. He was also a ferocious tackler, he would have done well under Rossy's coaching in today's team I reckon. Totally fearless, eyes on the ball stuff always. Never shirked it. Magnificent player. One of the greatest.