LIVING EVERY BOY’S DREAM
ONCE upon a time in the early 1980s Barry Stoneham was like so many youngsters in Geelong. He barracked for the local footy team that played in the VFL and went to watch them in action.
Young Barry, accompanied by his two sisters, donned their jumpers bearing the numbers of their favourite players. In Barry’s case, he proudly wore No. 4, which was in the custodianship of Terry Bright, a talented local lad who had made the big time.
As the Stoneham siblings stood near the fence in front of the old Brownlow Stand, young Barry often imagined himself donning the blue-and-white hoops and playing for the Cats.
One day, when he was just 18 years old, his dream came true. It was May 3, 1986 when the starry-eyed Stoneham ran out on to Kardinia Park for the very first time to represent the home side against Footscray.
Running alongside him was his idol Terry Bright in his familiar No.4; Stoneham had to settle for No.53. ( He soon switched to No.26, the number worn by my favourite player Bill Ryan, so I took particular interest in his progress.)
That first match started memorably for Stoneham as he soon picked up the ball for his first kick, threw it on to his left foot and watched it sail between the big sticks for a goal. What a thrill! A goal with his first kick and playing in a winning team first up. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Actually, it did if f you fast-forward to o the end of 2000 when n Stoneham hung up his boots after 241 games s and reflected on a career that saw him captain the club, win the best-and-fairest, play in two grand finals, represent Victoria seven times and gain All-Australian seelection in 1992.
Not to mention earning ning a reputation as one of the best centre half-forwards in the business alongside names such as Wayne Carey, Stephen Kernahan, Dermott Brereton and Stewart Loewe.
Stoneham also displayed the versatility and athleticism to swing into a defensive role or the ruck as required, with two of the best examples being produced in finals.
The first was in an elimination final in 1991 when a rampaging Tony Lockett kicked nine goals for St Kilda. He was on his way to 15 before Stoneham went to full back and put the clamps on the Saints’ superstar. At the other end of the ground, Stoneham’s great mate Billy Brownless booted eight majors and the Cats triumphed.
The second example came in a qualifying final against Footscray the following year when the Bulldogs got off to a flying start. On this occasion, Stoneham was sent into the ruck just before halftim time and fired up the Ca Cats with his aggressive ap approach at the centre bo bounce and around theg ground. The momentum swung dramatically as Geelong reduced the margin to 16 points at half-time before kicking 15 goals to three in t the second half on the wa way to a 10-goal win. O Of course, these highs were t tempered by the lows that foo football dished up during Stoneha Stoneham’s 15-year career, the lowest being a broken leg and ankle in late 1994 which forced him to miss the rest of the season and the grand final six weeks later. There were setbacks with his recovery and Stoneham was sidelined for the entire 1995 season, including the grand final — which wasn’t a great day for the injured skipper watching from the bench.
Disappointment turned to frustration then anger, which boiled over at half-time as the Cats headed to the rooms 40 points adrift of Carlton.
Tempers flared among the players, so Stoneham jumped in to assist Brownless who had been set upon by Carlton duo Ange Christou and Anthony Koutoufidis.
After the scuffle broke up, Stoneham stormed into the race — where the first person he met was Geelong CEO, the late Greg Durham. “Don’t say anything or you’ll be next,” a steaming Stoneham growled at the boss.
When the players and coaches sat down for a review a few days later, coach Gary Ayres observed pointedly: “Only one guy had a go on Saturday … and he was wearing a suit.”.
He’s still in a suit as co-host of the Pivots coterie with Brownless at Cats’ home games and barracking as he did back in the ’80s.
It’s the completion of a journey that has taken him from supporter to player and back to supporter.