On Saturday afternoon at Subiaco Oval, rookie sensation Michael Barlow’s stellar season came to a crushing halt – perhaps along with Fremantle’s hopes for 2010.
All it took was one sickening collision with teammate Rhys Palmer to sustain a badly broken leg, and cut down the 22 year old’s amazing start to his career.
At the commencement of this season, Barlow was elevated off Fremantle’s rookie list, earning himself a senior position. What happened next surprised even his closest onlookers. At that point Barlow was a $2000-1 bet to win the Brownlow medal.
After a consistently dominant season, he continued to shorten in price, being $9.50-1 on the day of that fateful game. The injury is very serious, reminiscent of former Richmond star Nathan Brown’s horrific leg break in 2005.
Barlow has enjoyed possibly the most brilliant rookie season the league has ever seen, averaging 28 disposals per game and kicking 15 goals in his 13 games as a midfielder. It was the most perfect ‘feel-good’ story of the year, demonstrating how hard work and pure will to succeed can take you to the elite level of sport.
So where does this injury leave the Dockers as they push towards a top four finish? WIth a very favourable run home, they are still in a great position to strike on the double chance come September. It is then that this unfortunate twist of fate will really test this side. Barlow has been Freo’s best player this season, and to lose an inspirational team member like that may prove catastrophic. His class, skill and courage will be sorely missed by this young side.
Barlow has already gone under the knife for extensive surgery, which the club hailed as a success. Some critics claim that he will most likely miss the 2011 season also, as recovery for this type of trauma is by no means a walk in the park. Fremantle’s head office has dismissed this information, saying it is both unfounded and very disappointing to hear.
I myself have my fingers crossed for the young man, as I’m sure the rest of the football world does. A crushing injury like this is hard to watch happen to any man, not to mention someone who has worked so very hard to achieve his goals. So we send our best to Michael Barlow for a successful recovery. His talents are far too special to see just disappear.
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