Kris Barlow

A notable success story for mature-age recruiting, Kris Barlow was plucked from the Vermont Football Club in the Eastern Football League at the age of 25. Selected by Hawthorn with pick 8 in the 1999 Pre-Season Draft, he arrived at Glenferrie Oval ready for immediate senior football, effectively bypassing the traditional developmental apprenticeship required of younger draftees. Barlow quickly established himself as a versatile utility who primarily operated across the half-forward line and on the wing, where his 188cm frame allowed him to provide a tall target linking the midfield to the forward line.

Possessing strong overhead marking ability and a reliable set shot, Barlow became a difficult matchup for opposition defences that struggled to contain his size and work rate. He became a consistent contributor during the Hawks' resurgence under Peter Schwab, playing a key role in the club's finals campaigns of 2000 and 2001, including the Preliminary Final side that narrowly lost to Essendon. Despite his late start to elite football, Barlow managed to carve out a respectable six-season career, reaching the 100-game milestone in his final year before being delisted at the conclusion of the 2004 season.