Mark Bairstow

Mark Bairstow (born 25 July 1963) was a successful Australian rules football player in both the Australian Football League (AFL) and the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

WAFL career

Bairstow came to South Fremantle Football Club from Lake Grace in 1985 and had an immediate impact, winning the WA Media Guild's Footballer of the Future award, representing Western Australia is a state match against South Australia, coming second to Wally Matera in South Fremantle's best and fairest award and equal third in the Sandover Medal. He was then named as captain in 1986 and represented WA twice more, won the Sandover Medal and South Fremantle's best and fairest award.

VFL/AFL career

As part of then-coach John Devine's mass-recruit-drive in 1986 and 1987, players such as Dwayne Russell, Billy Brownless, Bruce Lindner, Barry Stoneham as well as Bairstow were recruited by the Geelong Football Club. Bairstow signed with Geelong on 1986-09-26, five days before the 12 VFL clubs voted to allow a West Australian club (the West Coast Eagles) to join the competition.

Bairstow debuted for Geelong in 1987 and soon became Geelong's main ruck-rover. In the late 1980s, Geelong's midfield would be among the better in the then Victorian Football League with Paul Couch, Andrew Bews and Bairstow teaming beautifully to supply the team's powerful forward line.

After Geelong's loss in the 1989 grand final, Bairstow retired from VFL football and...
Read More