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Two delisted players have joined new clubs as the first delisted free agency period draws to a close, with former Fremantle Docker Michael Barlow going to the Gold Coast Suns, and Ricky Henderson signing with the Hawthorn Hawks.
Barlow signed a two-year deal to join the Suns.
“The opportunity that arose and the presentation Marcus Ashcroft and Rodney Eade put to me was at the high end and the demographic of the group as well,” said Barlow.
“I’m just super excited to come to a group that sees real worth for my attributes.”
“As I said the demographic of the group, we’re going to have four picks inside the top 20 and some players that showed some real growth last year as well as the inclusions of guys like Lyons, Hanley and Witts.”
Barlow was spotted meeting with Gold Coast players earlier in the week – and I don’t want to brag, but I called this more than two months ago.
The Suns and Barlow are a perfect fit. The Suns desperately need some mature heads, big bodies and leadership – while Barlow needs a team where he can have some confidence that he’ll be selected every week.
With Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia leaving the club during the off-season, and Gary Ablett and David Swallow both finishing the season on the sick bench, Barlow can already make a case to be the Suns’ first midfielder picked next year.
“From the outside looking in the past but now being entrenched in it there’s a real excitement around the group speaking to guys like David Swallow, Michael Rischitelli, they can’t speak highly enough of where this club’s going and the dynamics of it internally,” Barlow said.
“There’s perception but then there’s reality, and I take what Rischitelli, Rosa and all that tell me on face value and can’t wait to crack in and get to work as early as the 21st of November and enjoy becoming a Queenslander for at least the next two years.”
☀️s
— Michael Barlow (@mbarlow21) November 8, 2016
In the case of Ricky Henderson, he was delisted by the Crows at the end of the season after eight years and 90 games with Adelaide.
He’s been a handy player at times and shown flashes of serious talent, but regular injuries have prevent him from ever really establishing himself as a regular.
In 2016 he became a depth option at best, surpassed by the likes of Brodie Smith and Rory Laird and only called upon when they were unavailable.
At Hawthorn he’ll have the chance to break in for more games, as the Hawks look to build some depth after trading away club champions Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis this off-season.
Henderson isn’t quite a direct replacement for either of them, but could still fit into the Hawks’ best side next year if they shuffle their line-up around a bit.
At the very least, he should be useful depth to the Hawks if they have injuries in their backline – so long as he himself can stay out of the recovery room.
Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright said:
“Ricky is a terrific addition to our list and has the versatility to play both in the midfield and across half-back.
“We look forward to welcoming him to the club and seeing what he can produce in the brown and gold.”