Russell Barnes to retire at end of 2022 season

A legend of the VAFA, Russell Barnes has announced his retirement from football. Ormond Amateur Football Club President Richard Simon shared the following with supporters during the week.

After nearly 40 years in Amateur football, Barney will retire as a player and coach at the conclusion of season 2022.

It has been an extraordinary and unique career that has included multiple premierships as a player and a coach, Big V representative football, and a host of other off-field roles with the six clubs Barney has been involved with.

Barney is an Ormond (and VAFA) legend.  He played 255 games for Ormond, including four Premier A premierships – three as Captain (1985, 1987, 1988) – was selected as a Big V player on 11 occasions, and was inducted as a Big V ‘Champion’ in the VAFA Hall of Fame in 2017.  He also coached Ormond Seniors for two seasons (2008, 2009), including the Premier C premiership in 2008, and for the past three seasons, Barney has been the Ormond Reserves coach (2020-2022).  He will end the season this weekend having coached Ormond in 73 matches, for a club games total of 328.

Other clubs Barney has coached include Old Brighton, Hampton Rovers (including the 1998 Premier C premiership), St Bedes/Mentone Tigers (2002 Premier C Grand Final), Beaumaris and Aquinas, and his legacy at all of these clubs is his mentoring of coaching assistants, his passion for amateur football, and enduring friendships made.

What a distinguished career, a memorable career, a successful career – he will stop on the total of 692 matches next week, as a VAFA player (255 games) and coach (437 games).  On behalf of all Amateur people – not only the ones you had a direct involvement with – congratulations  and thank you for an outstanding contribution to Amateur football.

Barney has had sustained support from his family during his career: wife, Jude, and children Michael, John and Jane (deceased).