He was known as ‘Barry The King’, ‘Barry The Doorman’, or any number of variations. Barry King, one of a special group of Melbourne personalities, passed away on 7 January 2025. We are all the poorer for his passing, and remember his contribution to the club on so many levels.

Originally from Tasmania – and with Russell Robertson as a perennial favourite and welcome visitor in his latter days – Barry took on the doorman role alongside Arthur Wilkinson. By the time Barry came along, Arthur had been on station for nearly two decades, placed there by the great Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes around 1960.

The role of doorman was a demanding, rewarding and often entertaining one. Barry often related his method of gentle interrogation to filter visitors to the rooms. He and Arthur were part of the match day canvas for over half a century. Barry rarely had to hold the fort on his own, with one memorable occasion being the last game in 1987, out at the Western Oval. This was the game that announced Melbourne’s first finals appearance since 1964. The flood of celebration made Barry’s role on the door near on impossible, but in the best possible way. ‘It was madness!’, he would later recall with a laugh.

There for all the occasions, all the trials and triumphs, Barry was awarded an MFC Life Membership in 1995. Upon Arthur’s passing in 2013, Barry continued serving on the door alongside Arthur’s son, Mark. Less mobile in his later years, Barry was often assisted by close friend, Joe Cardamone.

In 2007, Barry was named as the MFC’s Volunteer of the Year, recognising both his longevity in the Football Department and as an assistant with administration and events. From 2008 to 2019, he also served as a National Sports Museum Volunteer every Monday morning. As related by Kate Freer, Volunteers Coordinator with the MCC, ‘Whenever the Dees had a win over the previous weekend, first thing on the Monday morning in the muster room he would lead the volunteers in a raucous rendition of ‘It’s a Grand Old Flag’.

A true Demon, stories of Barry will forever be part of our shared heritage. We pass on our most sincere condolences to his family, friends and all those who knew him as a treasured part of the Melbourne Football Club for over half a century.