Leo Barry is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League with the Sydney Swans. Originally from Deniliquin, New South Wales, Barry attended St Ignatius' College, Riverview before being drafted as a zone selection in the 1994 National Draft and making his debut in the final round of the 1995 season against Collingwood. For the next few seasons he played in the forward line without consistency, struggling to find a place in an already strong forward line. He did, however, display an ability to take spectacular jumping marks, earning him the nickname "Leaping Leo". In 2001, Swans coach Rodney Eade moved Barry to the backline, where he prospered. Despite being short for a fullback at 184 cm, he has successfully played on much taller opponents, making use of his leaping skills and using his body well. Regularly playing on opponents 10–15 cm taller than he is, Barry rarely has multiple goals kicked upon him. Barry's unique defensive ability is observed in 2004 when Barry kept 196 cm St Kildafull forwardFraser Gehrig to two handballs for the whole game. Despite being only 184 cm tall, Barry is surprisingly strong which has become a useful necessity for him when facing taller opponents such as Fraser Gehrig, Brendan Fevola, David Neitz, Anthony Rocca, Chris Tarrant, Quentin Lynch, Matthew Lloyd, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw and Matthew Richardson, amongst others. Barry has twice been included in the All-Australian team, in 2004 and 2005. On 18 August2009, Barry announced he would retire from football at the end of the current season. Barry is now a portfolio manager at Fairview Equity Partners.
"That Mark"
Barry will always be remembered as the player who "caught the cup" for the Swans. Not only did he ensure the victory for the Swans but Barry's backline heroics were instrumental to the Swans' success which culminated with one of Barry's trademark spectacular marks during the 2005 AFL Grand Final between Sydney and West Coast. After a kick from Dean Cox was sent into the forward line, Barry marked in a big pack within the dying seconds of the game to secure the Swans' long-awaited premiership. Commentator Stephen Quartermain described the mark, as:
''"Cox throws it onto the left, one last roll of the dice for THE EAGLES! Leo Barry you star!....The longest premiership drought in football history is over! For the first time in 72 years the Swans are the champions of the AFL!"
This image was later used by Tabcorp for promotional purposes, and Barry sued for them using it without his permission, claiming that the image was "worth A$50,000". A confidential out-of-court settlement was reached. Since the court case, Barry has held the rights to the photo.
