https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au The complete history of Australia's greatest sporting club Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:13:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.21 https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/one-hit-wonders-jaxson-barham/ Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:51:07 +0000 https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=12328 Herald Sun describing him as “a medium midfielder who plays in the style of his father, Ricky.” Jaxson would often watch a highlights package of his father before some of his early matches with the Falcons. “It was one of my routines – there was a 20-minute highlights video of him, and I would always sit down and eat brekky and put the video on while I was getting ready,” he told the Herald Sun after being drafted. “My game is pretty much the same as his – I play so similar to him, and I always watched that before a game.” Fittingly, he was presented with his father’s No.43 jumper when he arrived at Collingwood, saying: “I would have been happy with any number, but it’s exciting to wear that number.” “I told the family and Dad was just like ‘That’s amazing’. When I first rocked up it was kind of a bit scary, but everyone is really nice. It’s going well.” His Magpie coach Mick Malthouse said at the time the club had wondered if he loved the game enough given his passion for surfing was so strong. “Quite frankly, I watched Jaxson play a couple of times and there were areas where I was worried about whether it was football or (surfing that he preferred).” Malthouse said. “His previous five or six years or probably longer, he was into surfing. But he really has dedicated himself to being a footballer.” Barham had no luck in the 2008 season, having suffered a broken shoulder in a preseason game, and later having his tonsils removed before working hard in the VFL side. It wasn’t until 2009 that he won his chance, for that clash with the Lions at the Gabba, and what a debut it was. His 28 disposals exactly matched his opponents’ tally, but he also had nine tackles (many of them laid on Power) and six inside 50s. He also stood out that night with a shag of black hair and a moustache that wasn’t dissimilar to what his father had worn during his career. “I don’t think it is an accident that he played like he did,” Malthouse said after the game. “Because he has really dedicated himself to listen and understand the game.” “As much as he shared the ball with Luke Power … given it was his first game he was excellent. He did something which I suppose, when we first recruited him, we would never have had in mind.” In the afterglow of that first game, it seemed a long career was ahead for him. Sadly, that was not to be. He played four games in a row, including an Anzac Day game, but never again matching that first-up possession tally. He lost his spot for a period in what was then a highly-competitive Collingwood team. But he returned for the Round 17 game against Carlton, kicking his one and only goal in black and white. He kept his spot the next week too, playing once more against Brisbane where he had 19 touches. Barham struggled to make an impact during Collingwood’s highly-successful 2010 season. He did play one game during the season in the Queen’s Birthday draw against Melbourne. That was seventh and final game for Collingwood. He was delisted at the end of that season, his short but noteworthy AFL career over not long after it began in such spectacular fashion. “I took it on the chin because that’s what happens in footy, and I have moved on,” a philosophical Barham would say. He played for Geelong’s VFL side, and local footy down in the Bellarine area, including with Lorne. It was a short ride for him at Collingwood – three seasons in total and only seven AFL games. But he won’t be forgotten due to his famous surname and that memorable debut at the Gabba in 2009 which proved his high point.]]> https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/collingwoods-first-win-against-sydney/ Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:42:11 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=4097