Bye Bye, Barry Hall? Post by: Dan Ginnane 29 June, 2009 - 12:26 PM

Above: Big Bad Barry's final blow

It’s hard to remember someone leaving a club as disgracefully yet at the same time as gracefully as Barry Hall.

Hall will go down as player who was dominant in his era, while his cultural impact in Sydney perhaps only trails Tony Lockett amongst AFL players. People in Sydney were interested in him. Rare is the Swans player who can pepper the gossip columns with accounts of his personal activities. Yet history will judge Hall as a modern day madman. A victim of white-line fever who knew wrong from right, expect it seems when he was on the field. Even his 2005 premiership medal is slightly tarnished by the fact he should have been suspended from the grand final after punching a defender the week before. The highlight reels in the 6 o’clock news will no doubt feature his final act, his menacing knock out blow last year, a selection of other misdemeanours, and, oh, one great play from his career.

But look at Hall’s performance in today’s retirement press conference. He was humble, regretful and most of all, he was honest. No excuses. No anger toward the Swans. Here’s a guy that knows he has a problem and also knows he has no idea what triggers it, henceforth he can offer no half-baked solution.

With such candidness on show, it’s difficult not to feel for him.

While his exit was no doubt helped along behind the scenes by the Sydney hierarchy, Hall gave the very distinct impression that he put the team ahead of himself. Didn’t want to be the centre of attention anymore. When he says he doesn’t know what he wants to do next, it’s easy to believe him. He doesn’t look like he’s playing games.

Barry Hall leaves the Swans in sour circumstances, but whatever he does next, be it boxing or go around against the red and the white, he will have a ton of supporters in Sydney.

Listen to Triple M Footy's Garry Lyon sound off about Barry's latest blunder.

Should Barry finally turn to boxing? Which teams could do with some Barry Hall firepower? Tell us below!

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Leave your comment

• HKJ says

  Time is up for Bazza. He just can't control himself, he must be easy to wind up. If he gets six weeks he probably wont play again.

  Posted Monday 29 June, 2009 2:35 PM
• Jacko says

  What a numb-nut. Has helped bring the Swan power house to his knees. Obviously a good bloke but not that smart about his behaviour on the footy ground.

  Posted Monday 29 June, 2009 2:37 PM
• Sandra says

  Bazzas' had another brain fade, its time to give up the Footy Baz and take up Boxing or Wrestling.

  Posted Tuesday 30 June, 2009 3:52 PM
• Juz says

  I love Barry, I have been a Swans fan for a very long time. I watched the game and i saw him get elbowed in the face before he swung the punch. That bit always seems to be left out of the news footage.

  Posted Wednesday 1 July, 2009 8:27 AM
• simmo says

  start boxing now bazza while your in ur prime,australian heavyweight champ within a year,then straight to the states and hav a crack,u hav won a flag 4 at the swans,other year in footy at another club is only prolonging ur boxing career,ur not going 2 get any better at footy,past ur best..go pies!

  Posted Tuesday 7 July, 2009 7:36 PM
• Alex Marinkovic says

  When are AFL and NRL players going to have to put on skirts and play netball. It's a mans game. If you don't like it don't watch,Simple. The game's been around for a Hundred plus years it'll still be here long after we're gone. I'm not a Swans supporter but I'm going to miss the big fella and the guys that play the game like he did,hard and tough. The way it was meant to be played.

  Posted Wednesday 8 July, 2009 2:10 AM
• jenny Pocock says

  Who gives a rip about him, he definately isnt a true sportsman, he is only a bully and does not send out a good message to kids that idolize footy players or are potential players. Get rid of him and dont make a hero out of him its that simple.

  Posted Wednesday 8 July, 2009 3:01 PM
• Beets says

  Get real - the bloke is a thug who can't stop himself from punching other players in the head. If it were a league player he would have been forced out long ago and hung out to dry. We're being made to feel sorry for him - wake up!

  Posted Thursday 9 July, 2009 8:58 AM