Former Windsor-Zillmere and Queensland star Barry Karklis passed away yesterday at the age of 56. He was a hugely popular figure through the 1970s-80s.
Thursday, 15 July, 2010
Local AFL fans were saddened today to learn of the death late Wednesday of Grogan Medalist and Queensland Football Hall of Fame member Barry Karklis following a long battle with cancer.
He was 56.
A skilful and hard-running centreman originally from the Zillmere juniors who spent one season at Wilston-Grange before switching back to Windsor-Zillmere, Karklis played 232 QAFL games and was one of the most popular players of his era in the competition.
He went from being a good player to an outstanding player after two years at South Adelaide in 1977-78.
He returned home to win the Windsor-Zillmere B&F in 1979, when he was also runner-up in the Grogan Medal, and went even further to win the coveted medal in 1980 and play a key role in the Eagles’ 1981 premiership.
He played seven times for Queensland through the ’80s, including the Maroons’ first win over Tasmania in Ulverstone in 1980, and also won the Bill Clerke Medal for the QAFL Reserves B&F in 1987.
Funeral arrangements are still to be advised.
