Adrian Barich
Encyclopedia
Adrian "Barra" Barich is a sports presenter for television and radio, and a former Australian rules football
er and rugby league
player. Throughout his career, Barich was nicknamed "Barra" in reference to both his name and strongly built barrel chested stature.
, rugby union
(in which he represented the ACT) and later as a teenager, Australian rules football
, before moving to Perth.
and going on to play 160 games for the team. He captained the side for two seasons, and is a life member of the club.
Football Club and played in their historic first game in 1987. In his 47 games, Barich proved to be a robust midfielder. His place in West Coast Eagles history was forged more for his off-field role in the 1992 premiership. After missing selection in the team, he and Phil Scott, another inaugural player, penned a moving letter to those players selected to represent the club, letting their teammates know how much victory would mean to those who could not play and what it meant to those players who had been involved from club infancy.
as well as representing Western Australia
three times, captaining them in 1993.
club, the Western Reds and played for two seasons. However, he did not make a first grade appearance.
Whilst listed with the Reds, Barich played in a charity rugby league legends match at the Gold Coast Seagulls club, alongside a handful of former AFL players including Robert Dipierdomenico
and Dermott Brereton
.
. When Channel 7 had the AFL
broadcast rights he was a boundary rider for matches at Subiaco Oval
, during this period he was also a regular on Basil's Footy Show. Over summer he presents sport during the weekend news as well as filling in for the sports presenters during the year. He permanently became the weekend sports presenter in late September following former sports presenter and colleague Chris Mainwaring
's shock death.
In 2010 Barich won the coveted "Geoff Christian Medal" for the best football journalist in WA.
to host the Breakfast Program, and two and a half years later on the evening "Sports Today", hosting it together with Brad Hardie
. In mid 2006 "Sports Today" was revamped and called "Sports Central". Barich with Karl Langdon, and on some days Brad Hardie and Glen Jakovich
, broadcast the show to Perth and some regional listeners.
Barich also covered the Western Force
's Super 14
's matches on 6PR.
He also is famous for saying "thank you very much", "gornski" and pronounces numbers like Lou Richards.
In 2010 Barich left 6PR and launched a new show on MIX 94.5 called "The Dead Set Legends". He co-hosts that show with Eagles great David Wirrpanda and Channel 7 Presenter Sally Bowrey.
Barich also presents the Saturday Morning Sports Show on the Spirit Network
with Troy Stockden and Scott Coghlan in selected regional areas of WA.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. Throughout his career, Barich was nicknamed "Barra" in reference to both his name and strongly built barrel chested stature.
Early life
Barich grew up in Canberra, where he played multiple sports including rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
(in which he represented the ACT) and later as a teenager, Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, before moving to Perth.
Perth Football Club
Barich played Australian Rules as a midfielder. He moved to Perth in 1983, signing with the Perth Football ClubPerth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
and going on to play 160 games for the team. He captained the side for two seasons, and is a life member of the club.
West Coast Eagles
Barich was an inaugural member of the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
Football Club and played in their historic first game in 1987. In his 47 games, Barich proved to be a robust midfielder. His place in West Coast Eagles history was forged more for his off-field role in the 1992 premiership. After missing selection in the team, he and Phil Scott, another inaugural player, penned a moving letter to those players selected to represent the club, letting their teammates know how much victory would mean to those who could not play and what it meant to those players who had been involved from club infancy.
Representative football
Barich played AFL State of Origin football for New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
as well as representing Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
three times, captaining them in 1993.
Rugby League
In 1995 he joined WA's newly formed Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
club, the Western Reds and played for two seasons. However, he did not make a first grade appearance.
Whilst listed with the Reds, Barich played in a charity rugby league legends match at the Gold Coast Seagulls club, alongside a handful of former AFL players including Robert Dipierdomenico
Robert DiPierdomenico
Robert "Dipper" DiPierdomenico is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL of Italian descent and a member of the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century...
and Dermott Brereton
Dermott Brereton
Dermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
.
Channel 7 Perth
Since 1995 Adrian Barich has been a television sports reporter Channel 7 PerthTVW
TVW can mean:*TVW, a Seven Network owned station in Perth, Western Australia*TVW, a public affairs network in the state of Washington*"tvw", the false branding callsign of WISC-TV's digital subchannel and Madison, Wisconsin's MyNetworkTV affiliate...
. When Channel 7 had the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
broadcast rights he was a boundary rider for matches at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
, during this period he was also a regular on Basil's Footy Show. Over summer he presents sport during the weekend news as well as filling in for the sports presenters during the year. He permanently became the weekend sports presenter in late September following former sports presenter and colleague Chris Mainwaring
Chris Mainwaring
Chris Douglas Mainwaring was an Australian rules footballer. He played for the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League and East Fremantle in the West Australian Football League...
's shock death.
In 2010 Barich won the coveted "Geoff Christian Medal" for the best football journalist in WA.
6PR
Since 2001 Barich commenced work for radio station 882 6PR, firstly pairing with Basil ZempilasBasil Zempilas
Basil Zempilas is a sports presenter and commentator on radio and television in Perth, Western Australia. He currently appears on Seven News, and radio stations 1116 SEN and 92.9. Zempilas has commentated on the Olympics and several other major sporting events.-Early life:As a child Zempilas...
to host the Breakfast Program, and two and a half years later on the evening "Sports Today", hosting it together with Brad Hardie
Brad Hardie
Bradley John "Brad" Hardie is a former Australian rules footballer and current radio commentator. He began his career as an attacking back pocket player, but ended as a dangerous goal kicking forward pocket...
. In mid 2006 "Sports Today" was revamped and called "Sports Central". Barich with Karl Langdon, and on some days Brad Hardie and Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich
Glen Jakovich is a former Australian rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles.Glen was recruited from South Fremantle in Western Australia and debuted in 1991 and played most of his career at the Centre Half Back position, in the number 27 gernsey...
, broadcast the show to Perth and some regional listeners.
Barich also covered the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
's Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
's matches on 6PR.
He also is famous for saying "thank you very much", "gornski" and pronounces numbers like Lou Richards.
In 2010 Barich left 6PR and launched a new show on MIX 94.5 called "The Dead Set Legends". He co-hosts that show with Eagles great David Wirrpanda and Channel 7 Presenter Sally Bowrey.
Barich also presents the Saturday Morning Sports Show on the Spirit Network
The Spirit Network
The Spirit Network is a Commercial Radio Network covering the Remote Areas of Western Australia. Formerly known as North West Radio, Spirit targets the 35+ Listeners with its Adult Contemporary format...
with Troy Stockden and Scott Coghlan in selected regional areas of WA.