Mark Bairstow - VFL/AFL Career

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, Barry Stoneham, Robert Scott, Garry Hocking as well as Bairstow were recruited by the Geelong Football Club. Bairstow signed with Geelong on 26 September 1986, 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 (VFL) with Paul Couch, Andrew Bews and Bairstow teaming beautifully to supply the team's powerful forward line. Bairstow was recognised as a prolific kick-getter, none moreso than in 1989 when he amassed 404 kicks during the 22-round Home and Away season to finish third on the disposals list with 591, behind Paul Couch on 615 and Terry Wallance on 614.

After Geelong's loss in the 1989 grand final, Bairstow retired from VFL football and returned home to Lake Grace, Western Australia to work on his family's farm, while playing for the football side there where he played in another losing Grand Final.

However, he returned in 1991 and gave Geelong fantastic drive from the centreline that paved the way for Geelong's Grand Final appearances in 1992 and 1994.

After the 1994 Grand Final defeat and Malcolm Blight's resignation as coach of the club, Bairstow was advised that he was no longer required at the club by Blight's former assistant, new coach Gary Ayres. Due to the nature of Bairstow's dismissal, he has seldom been back to the club.

Despite a career of only seven years in the AFL, Bairstow achieved All-Australian status in 1987, 1991 and 1992.