“But it was the first game player who really deserves credit. Young John Barnes impressed all us bomber fans up in the stand with his fine debut. What more could we ask of a rookie – four goals, including one that got us back on the rails when things started looking a bit grim? I sure like the look of the boy Barnes and if he doesn’t make the grade in a big way then I’m no judge of football talent at all. Paul Hamilton and Dean Bailey are another couple of Bomber youngsters with big futures ahead of them.”
Mr Football - the great Ted Whitten - was also impressed by the debut of Barnes. He wrote is his column of the day:
“I was impressed was by Essendon’s young John Barnes. The blonde headed kid stole my imagination with his play. A little slow early, his first two kicks in the big league were goals and he ended up with four. He also did well in the ruck when he was given his chance. This gives Kevin Sheedy another big man to use up forward, allowing Salmon to stay on the ball. Essendon can be proud of its young blokes, who look like they will be around for a long time.”
It must all seem like an eternity ago to John Barnes. He debuted in a side that included Mark Thompson, Billy Duckworth, Tim Watson and Terry Daniher and seemingly had the world at his feet. It hasn't exactly run the path that many expected.
Barnesy failed to really grab his chance after his auspicious debut. ""I suppose when I look back I'd have to say I struggled to cope with playing VFL football,"" Barnes said. ""Physically and skill-wise I was ready but mentally I didn't handle it very well. I had my chances but wasn't mature enough to take them.""
The side Barnes made his debut in was:
Backs: Thompson Winton Duckworth
Half-Backs: Francis Walsh Hamilton
Centres: Foulds Baker Heard
Half-Forwards: Hawker Merrett Watson
Forwards: Elshaug Daniher Barnes
Rucks: Salmon Bailey Williams
Bench: Clark Van Der Haar
Barnes actually polled two Brownlow votes in that tied game. Geelong ruckman Damian Bourke got the three votes with Mark Bairstow getting on vote. But Barnes managed just five more games for the season and two senior games in each of the following three seasons. After failing to play a senior game in 1991 he was traded to Geelong in exchange for Sean Denham.
""The trade was probably the kick in the backside I needed. It made me realise that I had to get my act together or I would be out of football pretty quickly,"" Barnes said. And Barnes did get fair dinkum and the results were excellent. He spent eight seasons with Geelong and played in a very good side. They lost three Grand Finals during that time but Barnes was always a solid contributor.
At the end of 1999 - having spent some time in the reserves - Barnes new his time at Kardinia Park was over. ""I thought I could still play but I knew it had be somewhere else. I had a chat with Sheeds and Harvs and thankfully Essendon picked me up in the 2000 draft,"" Barnes said.
The rest as they say is history. Barnes played 24 out of 25 games for Essendon in 2000, played in the pre-season premiership side and was re-united with best mate Dean Wallis in the 2000 Premiership team. To cap off a remarkable return to Windy Hill Barnes was named in the Victorian Team of the Year.
And now Barnes will play his 50th game for Essendon. It has taken him 14 years and he has gone the long way about it - something that would surprise those who watched his debut. Amazingly since John barnes made his debut no less than 102 players have debuted for the Bombers.
""It does seem like a long time ago but I will still be proud to say I played 50 games for Essendon,"" Barnes said. ""I really love the club and I never wanted to leave but that is football. It has all turned out pretty well.""
