This weekend Yallourn-Yallourn North’s Premiership winning playing coach Barrie Burnett will break the club’s playing record as he plays game 320 for the club against Gornamdale.
Barrie passed the 300 game milestone in May 2019. In doing so joined a select group of players who played 300 senior games in the club’s history. And against the tigers, he will pass the previous record of 319 games held by Wayne Paulet, who is currently an Assistant Coach of the senior team.
Barrie has played all his football at YYNFNC. Starting in the U/11’s as a six-year old and making his senior debut at 18. He has become a great leader at the club and was instrumental in both the Senior and Reserves Premiership wins in Mid Gippsland Football League in 2019.
In a recent article in The Weekly Times, he spoke about how the role of senior coach now goes beyond football.
“You are not just a senior coach anymore; you’re pretty much everything. You’ve got to deal with all these young people and try to help them along the journey, and probably the most rewarding part is seeing them not just succeed playing football, but seeing their successes off the field as well seeing these young boys become men.”
In the same article, he also commented on the challenges faced by players and the club having year-long lay-off last year due to coronavirus restrictions.
“It was about just trying to keep the positivity with all players, and keeping them engaged and about their well-being,” he said. “We’ve got through it, and hopefully, we don’t have to go too long through this little period at the moment”.
Senior club officials have spoken of how Barrie has become a great leader within the club, having tremendous respect by all the players, club executive, committee, members and supporters. All of whom all wish Barrie congratulation for this fantastic effort he has achieved at YYNFNC.
