Barnaby French
Encyclopedia
Barnaby French is a former junior rower
and professional Australian rules football
er.
French attended Pembroke School
in Adelaide. He was a champion junior rower
, and at his pinnacle in the sport was a part of the Australian under 23s rowing team
. He gave up rowing when his studies interfered.
After rowing, French played local football for Ironbank in the Hills Football League
from 2006 until 2007. Despite having relatively little junior experience as a footballer, he won the club best and fairest both years, and was impressive enough to be drafted to the AFL by the Port Adelaide Power at the end of the 1997 season under the newly established rookie list
. He spent the following year, while on Port's rookie list, playing SANFL football for Sturt
. He was also selected in the SANFL representative team that season.
Port Adelaide elevated French to the senior list for 1999. He made his AFL debut as a 23-year-old and went on to play 62 games and kick 20 goals for the club. However, he was generally the club's number three or four ruckman
behind Matthew Primus
, Dean Brogan
and possibly Brendon Lade
, at the time, and this limited his opportunities with the Power. He continued to play SANFL football with Sturt when not selected for Port Adelaide, and won a premiership with the Double Blues in 2002.
At the end of 2002, French was traded to the Carlton Football Club
in exchange for a second-round draft selection (#16 overall). There, he took the position of number one ruckman, and proved weekly to be one of Carlton's most important players. He spent four seasons at Carlton, but as time went on he began to struggle to keep his place in the team. He announced his retirement at three quarter time of the Blues' Round 22, 2006 match against Sydney.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and professional Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er.
French attended Pembroke School
Pembroke School, Adelaide
Pembroke School is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational, day and boarding school, located at Kensington Park, a suburb 6 kilometres east of the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia....
in Adelaide. He was a champion junior rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, and at his pinnacle in the sport was a part of the Australian under 23s rowing team
Rowing Australia
Rowing Australia is the governing body for the sport of rowing in Australia.Established in 1925, it is the only organisation recognised by the Federation Internationale des Societies d’Aviron , the Australian Sports Commission , and the Australian Olympic Committee , to conduct rowing activities...
. He gave up rowing when his studies interfered.
After rowing, French played local football for Ironbank in the Hills Football League
Hills Football League
The Hills Football League is an amateur Australian rules football league, situated in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, to the south east of the state capital Adelaide.The League has over 3000 players belonging to 20 member Clubs...
from 2006 until 2007. Despite having relatively little junior experience as a footballer, he won the club best and fairest both years, and was impressive enough to be drafted to the AFL by the Port Adelaide Power at the end of the 1997 season under the newly established rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
. He spent the following year, while on Port's rookie list, playing SANFL football for Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
. He was also selected in the SANFL representative team that season.
Port Adelaide elevated French to the senior list for 1999. He made his AFL debut as a 23-year-old and went on to play 62 games and kick 20 goals for the club. However, he was generally the club's number three or four ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
behind Matthew Primus
Matthew Primus
Matthew Richard Primus is the current coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club and a former Australian rules footballer, captain and All Australian ruckman.-Early career :...
, Dean Brogan
Dean Brogan
Dean Scott Brogan is a ruckman in the Australian Football League . He was also a former basketballer with the Adelaide 36ers.-Adelaide 36ers career :...
and possibly Brendon Lade
Brendon Lade
Brendon Lade is a former Australian rules footballer who spent his entire AFL career with the Port Adelaide Football Club.- Early Career :...
, at the time, and this limited his opportunities with the Power. He continued to play SANFL football with Sturt when not selected for Port Adelaide, and won a premiership with the Double Blues in 2002.
At the end of 2002, French was traded to the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in exchange for a second-round draft selection (#16 overall). There, he took the position of number one ruckman, and proved weekly to be one of Carlton's most important players. He spent four seasons at Carlton, but as time went on he began to struggle to keep his place in the team. He announced his retirement at three quarter time of the Blues' Round 22, 2006 match against Sydney.