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Tom Barrass
Tom Barrass
Tom Barrass
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Thomas Donald Barrass (born 8 October 1995) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has played as a key defender since his junior career with Claremont. Barrass was drafted by West Coast with pick 43 of the 2013 national draft, but did not make his senior debut until round 17 of the 2015 AFL season. He was nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star and won a premiership with West Coast in 2018.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Barrass is the son of late journalist Tony Barrass.[1] He grew up in the Perth suburb of Scarborough and played for Scarborough Junior Football Club. After the club was unable to field an under-17 team due to a lack of players, he focussed on playing for his school Hale. Barrass underwent a growth spurt and was recruited by his zoned Western Australian Football League (WAFL) club Claremont. He suffered two injuries which restricted him to three games for Claremont's colts (under-19s) in 2012.[2][3]

Barrass rebounded to captain Claremont in their 2013 colts premiership.[4] He recorded 18 disposals in Claremont's six-point grand final victory over South Fremantle,[5] and believed he was close to lining up for the senior side before dislocating his finger.[3] Barrass played for Western Australia in the 2013 AFL Under 18 Championships, where he was mentored by fellow backman and then-West Coast captain Darren Glass.[4] He recorded an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank above 98 and contemplated attending university to study medicine.[3]

AFL career

[edit]

Barrass was drafted by West Coast with pick 43 of the 2013 national draft, their third selection.[6] On arrival at the club he expressed interest in eventually filling a leadership position.[4] In January, prior to the 2014 AFL season, Barrass underwent an arthroscopy to repair a torn hip joint, ruling him out of training for three months.[7] He returned in April to play his first game for East Perth reserves (West Coast's WAFL affiliate). Playing slightly over half the match, Barrass amassed 17 possessions.[8] He played a further seven reserves games for the year.[2]

Barrass made his WAFL senior debut against Peel Thunder in round 5 of the 2015 season, recording nine marks.[9] Gavin Bell, West Coast's Head of Development, was impressed with Barrass's performance and noted his marking and ball use as standouts.[10] Teammate Josh Hill likened him to fellow defender Jeremy McGovern for his intercept marking and ability to "read" the play,[11] a comparison later echoed by teammate Mark LeCras.[12] In July, coach Adam Simpson said Barrass was ready to play at AFL level, but noted the backline was "pretty settled" and it would be hard for the defender to claim a spot.[13] After McGovern hurt his left hamstring against Collingwood, Barrass replaced him in the senior side against Sydney in round 17 of the 2015 AFL season.[12][14] On debut, he recorded 15 disposals and five marks.[14] Simpson was happy with Barrass's performance, saying "it's good to get exposure in such a big game", and noted the side's scarcity of key defenders after Will Schofield injured his calf. Fellow backman Xavier Ellis praised his efforts to play on dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes.[15] Barrass played two more matches to end the year; round 18 versus Gold Coast and round 22 against Adelaide.[14]

Barrass missed the first half of the 2016 AFL season but replaced Eric Mackenzie in round 12 after the defender fell ill. In July he was named as one of West Coast's key players under 23 by AFL.com.au journalist Alex Malcolm.[16] He retained his spot for the majority of the second half of the season,[14] culminating in a 2016 AFL Rising Star nomination after a twenty-nine point win against Adelaide in round 23. Barrass recorded seventeen disposals at 94.1% efficiency, ten spoils and ten marks, six of them interceptions.[17][18] He polled one Brownlow vote for the performance.[19] Barrass said he had been galvanised by his previous match against Adelaide in 2015, when he had been outplayed by their forwards.[20] He went on to play in his first AFL finals series, but only managed an elimination final after West Coast were knocked out by the Western Bulldogs. Barrass had eleven disposals and took six marks;[14] his performance was rated a 6 out of 10 by AFL.com.au journalist David Reed, who noted he improved after a slow start on Tom Boyd and took several crucial marks.[21] Post-season, Barrass won West Coast's Rookie of the Year award.[22]

Ahead of the 2017 AFL season, Fox Sports journalists Riley Beveridge and Ben Waterworth named Barrass 'the rising star' at West Coast and a 'lock' in their defence.[23] He returned to pre-season training in improved condition after feeling 'pretty fat' near the conclusion of the 2016 season.[24] Barrass signed a contract extension prior to the 2017 JLT Community Series, tying him to West Coast until the end of 2019.[22] During pre-season training, Barrass fell awkwardly after a marking contest and was dazed for roughly a minute,[25] but returned later in the week on a lighter program.[26] After missing round 1, he played the next eight rounds of the season before being demoted to the WAFL after a poor performance against Essendon. Barrass returned against Geelong in round 13[27] and played the remaining games of the season, including the elimination and semi-finals.[14]

Barrass playing for Hawthorn during the 2025 AFL season

Barrass played on Sydney forward Lance Franklin in round 1 of the 2018 AFL season and conceded three goals in the opening term.[28] West Coast captain Shannon Hurn was confident Barrass was not shaken by the experience.[29] In June, during West Coast's round 12 bye, Barrass injured his back while using a dustpan and missed the next six rounds.[30] He returned for West Coast's finals campaign and played on Mason Cox in the qualifying final. Cox did not score and was restricted to four kicks and two marks.[31] In the grand final, Barrass again played on Cox; the match-up was named one of three key match-ups for the grand final by Terry Wallace prior to the game.[32] Barrass outplayed Cox to half-time, restricting him to just one possession. However, Cox improved in the second half and finished with seven marks and two goals,[33] while Barrass recorded ten marks and 17 disposals.[34] Barrass signed a contract extension until the end of 2022 after the grand final. He was ranked as 'elite' (in the top ten percent of defenders) by Champion Data ahead of the 2019 AFL season.[35]

Barrass kicked the first goal of his AFL career in the first round of the 2022 season, his 100th game.

Following the 2024 AFL season, Barrass requested a trade to Hawthorn.[36] He was officially traded on 16 October, the last day of trade period.[37]

Statistics

[edit]

Updated to the end of the 2025 season.[38]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2015 West Coast 37 3 0 0 22 15 37 17 2 0.0 0.0 7.3 5.0 12.3 5.7 0.7 0
2016 West Coast 37 10 0 0 69 46 115 49 13 0.0 0.0 6.9 4.6 11.5 4.9 1.3 1
2017 West Coast 37 19 0 1 164 91 255 121 21 0.0 0.1 8.6 4.8 13.4 6.4 1.1 0
2018# West Coast 37 19 0 0 193 49 242 124 15 0.0 0.0 10.2 2.6 12.7 6.5 0.8 0
2019 West Coast 37 14 0 0 131 30 161 86 11 0.0 0.0 9.4 2.1 11.5 6.1 0.8 0
2020[a] West Coast 37 18 0 0 144 37 181 94 4 0.0 0.0 8.0 2.1 10.1 5.2 0.2 3
2021 West Coast 37 16 0 0 168 53 221 117 10 0.0 0.0 10.5 3.3 13.8 7.3 0.6 1
2022 West Coast 37 19 1 0 210 85 295 145 14 0.1 0.0 11.1 4.5 15.5 7.6 0.7 0
2023 West Coast 37 14 0 0 115 66 181 93 6 0.0 0.0 8.2 4.7 12.9 6.6 0.4 0
2024 West Coast 37 18 0 0 169 72 241 123 14 0.0 0.0 9.4 4.0 13.4 6.8 0.8 0
2025 Hawthorn 37 25 0 0 142 100 242 94 28 0.0 0.0 5.7 4.0 9.7 3.8 1.1 0
Career[39] 175 1 1 1527 644 2171 1063 138 0.0 0.0 8.7 3.7 12.4 6.1 0.8 5

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements

[edit]

Team

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tom Barrass

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Thomas Donald Barrass (born 8 October 1995) is an Australian rules footballer who plays as a key defender for the in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from , he was drafted by the with the 43rd pick in the 2013 AFL National Draft from the in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Barrass made his AFL debut in 2015 and went on to play 150 games for the Eagles over ten seasons, establishing himself as one of the league's premier intercepting defenders known for his aerial prowess and composure under pressure. A pivotal member of West Coast's 2018 premiership team, Barrass lined up in the backline during the Grand Final victory over Collingwood, contributing 17 disposals and 10 marks in the decisive win. His standout 2022 season, where he averaged 15.5 disposals and 7.6 marks per game despite the team's struggles, earned him the as the Eagles' best and fairest player, along with selection in the AFL's as an emergency. In the 2024 trade period, Barrass requested and secured a move to Hawthorn, signing a four-year contract starting in the 2025 season, bringing his experience to bolster the Hawks' defensive structure under coach Sam Mitchell, with whom he had previously worked at West Coast; in his first season with Hawthorn in 2025, he played all 25 games. Beyond football, Barrass is a father of two and pursues studies in philosophy at the , balancing his academic interests with his professional career. He co-hosts the Pass The Aux, discussing and sharing playlists, and is involved in community work through the McGovern Foundation's Wanderer Program, mentoring disadvantaged youth in obtaining driver's licenses. Standing at 197 cm and weighing 96 kg, Barrass continues to be recognized for his leadership and versatility on the field, including selection for in the 2026 AFL match.

Early life

Upbringing

Thomas Donald Barrass was born on 8 October 1995 in Perth, Western Australia. He spent his early childhood in the coastal suburb of Scarborough, a community known for its beachside lifestyle and proximity to the Indian Ocean. Barrass is the son of Tony Barrass, a distinguished journalist who worked for major Western Australian publications and was recognized for his investigative reporting and coverage of Indigenous affairs, and Danielle Benda, a reporter, editor, and broadcaster. He has an older sister, Ally. Tony Barrass passed away in February 2021 at the age of 58 following a battle with throat cancer. Demonstrating exceptional academic ability, Barrass achieved an (ATAR) of 98.3 upon completing his secondary education at in Perth. This high score positioned him for entry into competitive university programs, and he considered pursuing a career in , alongside options in or , reflecting his broad intellectual interests before prioritizing other paths.

Junior football

Barrass began his organised football journey as a forward with the Scarborough Junior Football Club in Perth's northern suburbs. He later transitioned to a key defender role, marking the start of his development as a tall defender. This shift occurred during his time with in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Colts competition, where he quickly established himself as a dominant presence in the backline. Concurrently, Barrass played school football for Hale School in the Public Schools Association (PSA) competition, where he balanced his commitments between academics and the sport, crediting this equilibrium for his improved performance and enjoyment of the game. Hale School's program during this period contributed to his overall development under coach Jason Norrish. In 2013, Barrass captained Claremont's Colts side to a WAFL premiership, recording 18 disposals in the grand final victory over South Fremantle by six points, a leadership role that highlighted his maturity and on-field impact. His standout performances earned him selection in the Western Australia under-18 state team for the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, providing crucial exposure to national scouts and paving the way for his AFL draft eligibility.

AFL career

West Coast Eagles

Tom Barrass was selected by the with pick 43 in the 2013 AFL National Draft from Claremont in the West Australian Football League. Due to a hip injury requiring surgery, he missed the entire 2014 season and was managed on the club's long-term injury list before being cleared to play the following year. Barrass made his senior debut in round 17 of the against the at , where he recorded 10 disposals, four marks (including two intercepts), and three rebound-50s in a 26-point loss. He played just three games that year, facing adaptation challenges from his extended injury layoff and the transition to AFL-level physicality and pace, which limited his immediate impact as a key defender. In 2016, Barrass solidified his position in the Eagles' backline, playing 18 games and earning the club's of the Year award for his consistent intercept marking and rebounding ability. His season culminated in a round 23 nomination for the award after a standout against , where he gathered 17 disposals at 94 percent efficiency, 10 marks (six intercepts), and nullified key forward Taylor Walker. Barrass emerged as a cornerstone key defender for West Coast from 2017 onward, renowned for his intercept marking prowess and ability to read the play from half-back. This role peaked during the 2018 premiership season, where he played all 25 games, including a pivotal performance in the Grand Final victory over Collingwood by 5.11.71 to 11.8.74. Rated as West Coast's best player in the first half with crucial spoils that kept the Eagles within striking distance amid Collingwood's early dominance, Barrass's composure and aerial strength were instrumental in the comeback win, finishing with 17 disposals and 10 marks. Following the 2018 triumph, Barrass continued to anchor the Eagles' defense through a period of transition, forming a formidable partnership with fellow key defender that emphasized intercepting opposition forwards and initiating transitions from the back half. In 2022, amid the club's rebuild, he elevated his leadership by being appointed alongside and Liam Duggan in the formal group under captain . That year, Barrass delivered a career-best season, winning the as the Eagles' player, and earning selection in the 40-player All-Australian squad for his dominant full-back role, averaging 15.5 disposals and 7.6 marks per game. Over his decade with West Coast from 2015 to 2024, Barrass played 150 games and kicked one goal, establishing himself as a reliable intercepting defender whose partnerships, particularly with McGovern, provided to the backline during both contention and rebuild phases. In late August 2024, after 10 seasons and following the Eagles' end-of-year review, Barrass submitted a formal request, citing his desire for a new challenge as he nominated Hawthorn as his preferred destination.

Hawthorn Football Club

Following a disappointing 2024 season for West Coast, where the Eagles finished with only three wins, key defender Tom Barrass requested a trade and was officially acquired by Hawthorn on 16 October 2024. The deal saw Hawthorn part with their 2025 first-round draft pick, as well as future second- and third-round selections in 2026, in exchange for the 29-year-old premiership player. This move was part of Hawthorn's aggressive recruitment strategy to strengthen their defensive line during the off-season trade period. Barrass integrated into Hawthorn's pre-season training under senior coach Sam Mitchell, focusing on adapting to the club's high-pressure defensive structure alongside new recruit Josh Battle. Early sessions highlighted his aerial prowess and pace, though he acknowledged initial "eye-opening" challenges in aligning with the Hawks' system, which emphasized intercept marking and quick transitions from the back half. By the end of pre-season, Barrass expressed confidence in his fit, contributing to a bolstered backline that aimed to address Hawthorn's vulnerabilities exposed in prior years. His previous experience as at West Coast aided his leadership in mentoring younger defenders during this adjustment period. In the 2025 season, Barrass featured in all 25 home-and-away games for Hawthorn, playing a pivotal role in their defensive setup and contributing to a late surge that secured a finals berth. Key moments included his contribution in Round 7 against his former club West Coast, with 9 disposals and 3 marks to help secure a convincing victory, and his efforts in high-stakes matches during the club's push toward September. Renowned for his marking contests—ranking among the league's top performers in intercept marks and spoils—Barrass often shut down opposition key forwards while initiating rebounds, exemplified by spectacular hang-time grabs that transitioned play forward. His composure under pressure was instrumental in Hawthorn's elimination final win over (8 disposals), though the team fell short in the preliminary final against (10 disposals). As a in Hawthorn's ongoing rebuild under Mitchell, Barrass provided stability and leadership to a relatively young group, drawing parallels to his 2018 premiership-winning West Coast side by noting the Hawks' list was "in really good shape" with similar potential for a flag run. His ability to read the play and intercept effectively not only fortified the defense but also elevated the team's overall structure, helping propel Hawthorn from mid-table contenders to preliminary finalists in his debut year.

Statistics and honours

Statistics

Tom Barrass has played 175 (AFL) games for a career total of 1 , accumulating 1,527 kicks, 644 handballs, 2,171 disposals, 1,063 marks, and 138 tackles. His career averages stand at 8.7 kicks, 3.7 handballs, 12.4 disposals, and 6.1 marks per game through the end of the 2025 season. Of these, Barrass appeared in 150 games for the from 2015 to 2024, compared to 25 games for the in 2025. Notable statistical peaks include 295 disposals and 145 marks in the season with West Coast, alongside a career-high 77 intercepts that year. The following table summarizes Barrass's season-by-season statistics, including games played, disposals, marks, tackles, and goals.
YearTeamGamesDisposalsMarksTacklesGoals
2015West Coast3371720
2016West Coast1011549130
2017West Coast19255121210
2018West Coast19242124150
2019West Coast1416186110
2020West Coast181819440
2021West Coast16221117100
2022West Coast19295145141
2023West Coast141819360
2024West Coast18241123140
2025Hawthorn2524294280
CareerTotal1752,1711,0631381

Honours and achievements

Barrass captained the Claremont Tigers to a WAFL Colts premiership in 2013, showcasing early leadership qualities that marked his transition to senior levels. As a key member of the ' backline, Barrass contributed to the club's AFL premiership victory, playing in the grand final win over Collingwood and earning a premiership medallion. In his debut AFL season, Barrass was awarded the West Coast Eagles Rookie of the Year in 2016 and received a nomination for the award that same year. His 2022 John Worsfold Medal, recognizing him as the club's , stemmed from a standout defensive season where he anchored the backline amid team challenges. That year, he was also selected in the 2022 All-Australian squad for his elite key defending. Barrass served as of the from 2023 to , supporting captain in 2023 before becoming the sole in following changes. In 2025, Barrass was selected to represent in the 2026 AFL .

References

  1. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/T/Tom_Barrass.html
  2. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-hawthorn-hawks--tom-barrass
  3. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/players/790/tom-barrass
  4. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/club/history/premierships/2018
  5. https://www.afl.com.au/news/830167/career-best-year-sees-barrass-crowned-eagles-club-champ
  6. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1709086/footy-music-philosophy-and-more-meet-tom-barrass
  7. https://www.afl.com.au/players/789/tom-barrass
  8. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1929009/barrass-earns-wa-selection-in-state-of-origin
  9. https://mabumbe.com/people/tom-barrass-biography-age-net-worth-career-highlights/
  10. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1265725/philosophy-podcasting-perception-inside-tom-barrass-bold-hawthorn-hawks
  11. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-tony-barrass-dead-tom-barrass-instagram-tribute-west-coast-eagles-stats/news-story/a246f8aff833b3ab43a2a371a910c2b9
  12. https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/balance-the-key-to-late-bloomer-barrass-ng-ya-352806
  13. https://www.claremontfchistory.com.au/archives/archive/2013-colts-squad-photo-from-2013-annual-report
  14. https://wafootball.com.au/news/2428/wa-state-18s-squad-finalised
  15. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1040848/barrass-an-eagle-for-life
  16. https://eaglepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Barrass
  17. https://talkinghawks.com/2024/11/28/meet-our-new-recruit-tom-barrass/
  18. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/video/353241/barrass-the-rookie-of-the-year
  19. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/eagle-barrass-gets-afl-rising-star-nod/cz1b91myr
  20. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/270989/grand-final-afl-media-player-ratings
  21. https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/afl-grand-final-2018-tom-barrass-a-key-pillar-in-west-coasts-thrilling-win-ng-b88976497z
  22. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=9720
  23. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/24808268/afl-west-coast-eagles-collingwood-magpies-eagles-stun-pies-steal-thrilling-2018-afl-grand-final
  24. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1054503/shuey-to-captain-west-coast-in-2022
  25. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/08/26/eagles-defender-claims-club-best-and-fairest-award
  26. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1206385/west-coast-star-earns-all-australian-squad-selection
  27. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1640731/club-statement-barrass-requests-trade
  28. https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/popular-west-coast-vice-captain-tom-barrass-makes-bombshell-trade-request-to-hawthorn-c-15850363
  29. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1239410/done-deal-hawthorn-hawks-strengthen-further-as-trade-agreed-for-west-coast-eagles-gun-tom-barrass
  30. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1678876/done-deal-eagles-farewell-barrass
  31. https://www.zerohanger.com/done-deal-west-coast-trade-premiership-defender-to-hawthorn-afl-trade-news-155911/
  32. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1678974/afl-trade-wrap-hawks-secure-defensive-duo
  33. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-25/the-hunted-and-hated-hawks-are-ready-to-take-on-the-world/104966888
  34. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/full-sweat-hawthorn-coach-sam-mitchell-delivers-brutal-preseason-warning-to-his-players/news-story/696e198c59c850002c762979dfd6b305
  35. https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/eye-opening-pre-season-admission-comes-back-to-haunt-big-money-hawthorn-recruit-tom-barrass-c-18457591
  36. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1412148/hawthorn-hawks-answer-greater-western-sydney-giants-challenge-in-remarkable-elimination-final
  37. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/sep/19/afl-2025-first-preliminary-final-geelong-cats-v-hawthorn-hawks-live
  38. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/teams/hawthorn/2025_gbg.html
  39. https://www.zerohanger.com/fulltime-hawthorn-west-coast-round-7-2025-mc161243-161110/
  40. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1397472/history-repeating-the-duo-josh-battle-and-tom-barrass-mirroring-hawthorn-hawks-three-peat-heroes
  41. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1416188/genuinely-good-hawthorn-hawks-defender-tom-barrass-sees-flag-comparisons
  42. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/birds-of-a-feather-why-this-premiership-star-says-hawks-can-fly-higher-20250909-p5mtnw.html
  43. https://au.news.yahoo.com/hawks-very-similar-2018-eagles-020143057.html
  44. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/722159/leadership-material
  45. https://www.afl.com.au/news/880565/each-clubs-captains-leadership-group-for-2023
  46. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1471885/reliable-defender-gun-forward-to-co-captain-eagles
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