STURT prospect Harley Barker shapes as one of South Australia’s top talents in 2025. The flying wingman is a run-and-gun type who enjoys carrying the ball on the outside. Barker debuted in South Australia’s Under 18 side as a bottom-ager and is part of this year’s AFL Academy.

We spoke to the Mount Barker product at the SANFL Under 18s preseason testing event over the weekend, discussing his representative experiences, how he views himself as a player, and which teammates have been training the house down.

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PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Harley, can you talk about your earliest football memories?

HB: “It was probably Auskick when I was younger. I did stuff at Nairne in Mt Barker and then played Under 14s with my brother when I was about 10. It was a bit of a step-up in age group. I think that’s helped me in my development long-term, playing with bigger bodies and making better decisions.

“I won a few premierships when I was younger, which was nice. In Under 14s I think I won three out of four. So a pretty good history there. Then pretty much from Under 16’s and above I’ve been down at Sturt the whole time, so it’s gone from there.”

Q: What have you taken from experiences like the State and National academies, and last year’s Futures match on the MCG?

HB: “It’s definitely a dream to play on the MCG. You look at it on TV and it’s one thing you strive to get to. It was a good experience, I definitely took it all in. Walking to the oval, you look around and just take it all in, soak it in. Then when you’re playing, you just remember you’re out there on the MCG with the best footballers in Australia and you have to show off your talent and the thing you’re most passionate about.”

Q: How has your preseason been?

HB: “Good, good. Definitely a step-up for me, just to be that type of leader in my second year in the [state] academy. I’ve had one mishap two weeks ago. I rolled my ankle doing some conditioning at the end of training. But other than that I’ve been strong and fit and feel pretty good going into the season.”

Q: Can you describe yourself as a player?

HB: “I like to get the ball on the outside and use my speed. Decision making and kicking combined are probably my strongest points. I like to work both ways, defensively and offensively, try to help the backs and the forwards as much as I can and link up with everyone. Just that run-and-carry on the outside, being that option to switch the ball. Decision making to open up the games, that’s one thing I’ve been told that’s pretty strong.”

Q: What are the things you’re looking to improve on?

HB: “Definitely a bit of voice, just commanding the ball. I’ve been told I’m probably not the loudest person out there. So just using my voice a bit better and improving ground balls. That type of stuff at ground level, crumbing it off a contest is one thing I’ve been told to keep working on in training.”

Q: You’ve played a lot on the outside, do you expect to continue playing there or will you mix it up a bit this year?

HB: “The last three years I’ve been out in the wing. I got a bit of exposure to the backline in the state games, that was pretty good. But I think my strongest [position] is definitely outside on the wing. I’d like to venture a bit more for Sturt in that forward and back range just to show a bit more versatility and positions I can play. I’d like to learn different positions.”

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy?

HB: “I do. I try to watch as much as I can.”

Q: Who do you support?

HB: “I go for Port Adelaide. I’ve been a Port boy with my dad all my life, but I’m starting to move a little bit to North Melbourne. Their play is pretty cool, they’ve got a young squad which is pretty exciting for them.”

Q: Would you be happy to move interstate if it came to it?

HB: “I think I’ve always been down to move interstate. It’s a dream come true if you get your name called out for a club. You’ll take whatever you get and I’d be happy to move interstate. It’d be a good little challenge.”

Q: Are there any players you really look up to and try to emulate yourself? 

HB: “I think Blake Acres from Carlton. The one thing he does is work both ways and his ball decision making is pretty good. I watch him on the TV out in the wing running his patterns… Also Miles Bergman from Port with his run-and-carry off the backline, I like to think I do a bit of that as well.”

Q: Is there a teammate that you think we should look out for to have a big year? 

HB: “There’s been a few good ones. I think Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier has had a big step-up in his leadership role in the state team. Sam Cumming, also from North. I trained with him at Port which was pretty cool. He trained pretty well and I thought he stepped up to that level pretty nicely. Aidan Schubert up forward, he’s looking pretty good. He’s one of our main forwards that we look to hit all the time. He’s looking pretty good.”

Q: You’ve gotten to know a few of the boys around the country, so if you had to be the selector with pick one, who would you take? 

HB: “I’d like to say Dyson Sharp, because he’s an SA boy. He’d definitely be up there… Josh Lindsay, I trained with him a bit in the [National] Academy and the way he kicks the ball is incredible. He’s got a very good kick on him, so he’d be another one I reckon.”