Trevor Barker

Trevor Barker (7 October 1956 – 26 April 1996) was an Australian rules footballer with the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League). Barker was in many ways a shining light during a particularly tough time on and off the field for St Kilda in the 1970s and 1980s. While he was seen by many to be the "glamour boy" of the St Kilda team, he was the heart and soul of a club that reached some dark times throughout his career.

Barker was recruited from Cheltenham Football Club in 1975. He made his debut wearing number 25 against Hawthorn in Round 2 on 12 April 1975. He changed to his iconic number 1 in 1977. He was selected to represent Victoria at interstate level on seven times.

Barker won St Kilda's best and fairest award in 1976 and 1981.

Barker played during an era of little club success, which included St Kilda being wooden spooners in 1977, 1979, 1983–86 and 1988.

Barker was captain of the St Kilda Football Club from 1983 to 1986. He was regularly featured in the VFL highlight reels with his high-marking and determined approach to the ball.

Barker is (as of 2013) one of only five players in the AFL/VFL to play 200 games or more without playing a final (the other four are Steve Smith and Gary Hardeman of Melbourne, teammate Geoff Cunningham and Ted Pool of Hawthorn). As he got older he would regularly miss games through chronic injury until he retired after the 1989 season.

Many football experts noted that Barker could have easily fitted in to the powerhouse teams of the competition and there were plays for his services but his loyalty never wavered and he stuck with the club throughout his entire career.

After retiring from the Saints in 1989, Barker embarked on a coaching career with Victorian Football Association club Sandringham. He coached the Zebras to premierships in 1992 and 1994 before leaving after his second premiership to return to the Saints as an assistant coach to Stan Alves.