MAGAREY MEDALLISTS

1922 - Robert George Lavington Barnes

South Australian born, Bobbie Barnes moved with his parents to Broken Hill while he was still a youngster.  It was there that he played his first senior football as a member of the West Broken Hill club, winning the league's best and fairest award, and catching the attention of Adelaide clubs when he came to the metropolis in 1918 to play in a challenge match against West Adelaide, the club for which he was eventually to make his name.  Apparently, most of the Adelaide clubs, whilst impressed with Barnes' natural football ability, regarded him as being too small to succeed at league level.  Not so West, which snapped him up when he moved to the city in 1921.

A clever, hyperactive rover, particularly noted for his accurate disposal of the ball, it was not long before Barnes was earning rave reviews, and he was selected to represent South Australia in his debut season.  The following year saw him secure South Australian football's premier individual honour, the Magarey Medal, but he was unable to prevent his team from going down heavily to Norwood in the grand final.

Barnes continued to give West Adelaide and the state good service for another four seasons, amassing a total of 59 games and kicking 67 goals.  He was West's top goalkicker in 1924, albeit with just 17 goals.

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