Ricky Barham

Ricky Barham
Personal information
Date of birth (1958-11-28) 28 November 1958 (age 65)
Original team(s) South Warrnambool
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1977–1986 Collingwood 151 (140)[1]
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1986.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Richard 'Ricky' Barham (born 28 November 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Recruited from South Warrnambool, Barham had a successful career early with Collingwood Football Club as a quick wingman. He could find the ball and his skills were sound, but his pace was his main asset.[1] He debuted in 1977 against Hawthorn and kicked five goals from the wing against Rodney Eade. Ultimately while Barham played in five grand finals, including both 1977 Grand Finals he never won a premiership. Barham played 151 VFL games over 10 seasons before retiring in 1986 to tour Australia[1] with then partner Wendy Freer, who he later married and had two children, Jaxson and Charlie.

Later Barham worked for 15 years as the National Recruiting Manager for the Sydney Swans. During his time at the Swans Barham drafted a majority of the club's most successful players, including Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Barry Hall, Jude Bolton[citation needed] and Tadhg Kennelly.[2] In the Swans Grand Final victory, 21 of the team's 28 listed players were drafted under Barham's recruitment.[citation needed]

Son Jaxson followed in his father's footsteps to Collingwood, being drafted in 2007 AFL draft under the father–son rule.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2003). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (5th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 32. ISBN 1-74095-032-1.
  2. ^ Blake, Martin (2 September 2011) Beloved adopted son to bow out
  3. ^ "Three father-son nominations". Sportal.com.au. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009.