IT IS the moment that defined his career but Leo Barry feigned ignorance when asked on Tuesday about the mark that delivered the 2005 premiership to the Sydney Swans.

“Which one’s that?” he responded when asked if he had any pictures of the famous grab.

“No, I’ve got it plastered above my bed. I just fall asleep every night looking at it,” he continued, sending the room filled with reporters, players and Swans staff into peals of laughter.

Barry, who announced on Tuesday that he would retire at the end of the season, said it remained one of his proudest moments in football.

With the Swans leading West Coast by four points late in the 2005 grand final, Eagles ruckman Dean Cox roosted a long ball into the forward line for one last-ditch attack.

A massive pack converged for the contest and Barry emerged clutching the Sherrin after a game-saving grab.

Stephen Quartermain’s accompanying cry of “Leo Barry, you star” ensured the moment would feature prominently on highlight reels for years to come.

“Obviously people talk about it a lot and I’ll always be remembered as that guy that took that mark, not so much for what I’ve achieved with my footy – but that’s not a bad thing to be remembered for, is it?” he said.

“It was such a big game and as a kid, you always dream about kicking the winning goal in a grand final but taking the mark is probably a similar comparison.

“It sits pretty well with me and it’s something that I’ll always be proud of.”

Swans coach Paul Roos said Barry’s famous grab ensured the versatile defender was held in the high esteem that his footballing achievements warranted.

He recalled a game in 2004, when an undefeated St Kilda traveled to Sydney on a 10-game winning streak and left after suffering their first loss of the season.

“[Fraser] Gehrig was on fire at the time and Leo kept him to no kicks. I think he had three or four handballs and Leo had 21 kicks. That shouldn’t be physically possible for a guy of Leo’s stature but he was able to do that because he was so powerful in his mind and his competitiveness,” Roos said.

“Through that period of time, he was clearly one of the best two or three defenders in the competition. Really, the mark probably stamped him as a footballer to the level that he should be remembered at.”