Michael Barlow Supercoach 2017
“Feel-Good Story”, New Club – Can He Return to His High-Scoring Days?
by Jambo
A late bloomer, in 2010, Michael Barlow hit the ground running in the AFL averaging 120 plus until he suffered a horrific broken leg.
This guy has a lot of heart and has overcome every obstacle thrown at him. I carry a whole load of respect for him. Regardless of what happens here, he will be a ‘feel-good story’ of a player who rose up like a phoenix from the ashes of adversity. He’s the consummate team-player, his willingness to fill all and sundry asked of him by his coach frustrated Supercoach gamers throughout the last couple of seasons.
New club, new opportunities? By departing from Fremantle to the Gold Coast Suns, he’s offered a fresh start with a new coach and teammates. A strong character and natural leader, does he still have it in him to return to his best fantasy footy form? Or will he continue to frustrate and tease us? What will be his new role? How will a midfield rich with talent affect any potential minutes in the guts?
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2017 Price: | $533,200 |
2017 Position: | MID |
Games last season: | 13 |
Average last season: | 98 |
100+ games last season: | 6 |
Sub 80 games last season: | 4 |
Price range last season: | $471K – $558K |
Missed games last season: |
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Significant history: |
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RISK FACTORS
- Past couple of seasons, injury-plagued
- Inconsistent
- Team player (i.e. his role may change throughout the season to fit the team needs)
- MID only
- Awkwardly-priced
- Injury-prone
- May be rested a few games
SELECTION PURPOSE
- Looking for a POD (or point-of-difference)
- Can score big on his day
THE GOOD
- Will play midfield pushing forward methinks.
- Can score big (last season scored 168 on one game)
- Works hard
- Can kick a goal
- Forgetting the prior two seasons, proven point-scorer.
THE BAD
- Will likely be rested for a few games
- Inconsistent
- Prone to injury
- Likely to rack-up clangers (2-3 a game each season)
- Can drift in-and-out of games
- New coach, unsure of new role
- Prefers to handball rather than kick
VERDICT
I don’t believe age will play too much of a factor here. Michael Barlow has been terrific for us in Supercoach but sadly, I think he’s no longer relevant. Thanks for the memories, Mike, but we’ll have to take you out to pasture…
NO
Jamb0
Ripping work Jambo! Chew the fat with him in the comments below
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Michael Barlow Community Poll:

Thanks for the donut Ross whilst he racked up 200 in the WAFL. Your an Ass Clown Ross! Always doing something to stuff with us. Despite the fact Ross can't stuff with him again it's a firm No for me. For all the reasons you've pointed out Jambo. Great job
They don't call him Ross Lyin for nothing.
Definition of ass clown.
Thanks Pieman. I would love to be proven wrong by Barlow though.
Would love to see him kick ass at GC & shove it up Ross
I think you're missing one point ..
If/when GAJ and swallow go down Micky becomes the main cog in the middle . Could become relevant mid season , I remember watching him tear port to pieces in that 168sc pt performance , he's a special talent.
I certainly won't be starting With him but could bear fruit later in the year .
Fair call. However, I can picture GAJ playing mainly as a forward next season and Barlow as a tagger/run-with role. Barlow is still a star but he scored 168 with Fyfe and Mundy missing. It will be interesting to see what happens.
I like Barlow. Not his fault Ross is a Toss. Agree with Bont that there's no way I'll start with him, but you need only look as far as Touk to see the kind of upkick when the injury toll mounts and the opportunities arrive. Averaged 114 as a tagger/run with player
Pity he lost his dpp
Jamma
Started him last year – bad move
Traded him early to Parker – good move
No chance on 2017. Good move.
Good in your early years Michael but too many others have moved passed you. Locked in at firm unwavering No.
Sadly his only relevance is being on the cover of the 2017 Mr Irrelevant Calendar.
Will always hold a special place in my heart though for the glory days of old!
Never been quite the same after serious leg injury. Great toughness to get back as well as he did. Great afl story.
Thanks Nick.
Good write up Jambo. Old"ish" man propping up a young list at an awkward price. 2 seasons is a long time without a drink. He is on my watchlist but a fair way down, a corrective maybe post early bye.
He handled that leg break moment like a Boss… Anderson Silva? Cried and screamed. Nathan Brown? Motionless with pain. Mitch Wallis? Wailed like a banshee. Mick Barlow? Tried to stand up on it… Plum girth – significant… Shame he's lost his DPP as he won't be considered in 2017 as a MID b the serious players… We will always have the memories…