A tremendously popular player Barker joined the Saints from Cheltenham and was immediately a star. He was one of the first former Little League players to graduate to the big time.
Initially a half-forward flanker Barker's natural athleticism enabled him to soar for spectacular marks. Despite his slender build he was tried as a defender early in 1976 and his judgement and spring countered full-forwards who were invariably bigger and more strongly built. Barker was also a copybook tackler.
He made the first of seven state appearances in 1977 after winning the Saints' best and fairest award in 1976. Barker several times rejected offers to join other clubs and at one stage was in the Melbourne boardroom poised to sign with coach Ron Barassi.
His loyalty to St Kilda was unquestionable even when he missed out on financial returns and other bonuses such as the car, which was a prize for best and fairest but was raffled to raise money to defend the Doug Cox case.
He was a worthy captain of the club from 1983 to 1986. Because of the weakness of the St Kilda side he was usually required to take on key position roles that demanded a lot from a player of such a light physique. He copped plenty of hard knocks in later years and suffered a succession of injuries.
He had a magnificent year on the half-back flank in 1981 winning his second best and fairest award and running fifth in the Brownlow. After retiring from St Kilda he spent two years in the media then coached Sandringham to the 1992 and 1994 VFA flags. The whole football world was saddened by his premature death from cancer in 1996.
