Player Inductee
New Town-Glenorchy/Penguin, Centre Half Back, 1952-65
> 167 games for New Town/Glenorchy, 1952-57, 1961-65
> 45 games for Penguin, 1958-60
> Penguin captain-coach, 1958-60
> New Town/Glenorchy TANFL premierships, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1965
> New Town/Glenorchy state premierships, 1956, 1965
> New Town/Glenorchy Best and Fairest, 1954, 1961
> Tasmanian National Carnival representative, Perth 1956 (named All-Australian)
> 10 representative matches for Tasmania
> Multiple representative matches for TANFL/NWFU
> New Town/Glenorchy ‘Team of the Century’ (centre half back)
> Penguin ‘Team of the Century’ (centre half back)
A magnificent high mark, a reliable kick and rarely beaten in one-on-one contests, Barry Strange was one of the finest Tasmanian defenders of all time and a tremendous contributor for club, league and state for nearly 15 years.
Starting his senior career with New Town in 1952, Strange was soon entrenched as a member of the powerful Magpie combinations of the mid-1950s. Winning the first of two Best and Fairest awards in his third season, Strange was a member of three premiership teams in his first five seasons of senior football. 1956 was without question the high point of Strange’s career; not only was he a member of New Town’s TANFL and state premiership-winning teams, he was also selected to represent his state at the National Carnival in Perth. In a tournament where Tasmania finished a very creditable third, Strange was one of two Tasmanians (along with City’s Geoff Long) to be awarded All-Australian honours.
After six seasons with New Town Strange journeyed to the north-west coast for the 1958 season, as the second Hobart-based player in as many years (after North Hobart’s Col Moore) to be appointed captain-coach of Penguin in the NWFU. Strange would hold the role for the next three years, although the Two Blues were unable to make any finals appearances during that time. Interestingly, he was selected for the 1958 National Carnival in Melbourne during this period, however withdrew from the squad and was subsequently penalised for playing for Penguin in the aftermath. He was a regular NWFU representative during his time at Penguin, however his greatest representative achievement of the period came in June 1960 when, playing for Tasmania, he was a member of the renowned Tasmanian side that sensationally defeated the might of the VFL by seven points at York Park.
After three seasons in the north west Strange returned to Hobart and to his original club, which by now was known as Glenorchy. In his first season back he won a second Best and Fairest award, and four years later wrapped up his career with the Magpies in the best possible fashion as a member of the Glenorchy side that defeated North Hobart by 31 points for the 1965 TANFL premiership. A week later, in his final senior match, he achieved his second state premiership title as the Magpies proved too strong for NTFA premiers Scottsdale to the tune of 20 points.
Barry Strange’s impact on the Tasmanian football landscape was significant, and in 2000 he was named at centre half back when Glenorchy announced their ‘Team of the Century’. Three years later he was accorded the same honour by Penguin; an incredible accolade considering he played just 45 games for the club.
