| Syd Barker Jr. | |
| Fullname: | Sydney Quinton Barker, Junior |
| Birth Date: | 15 October 1911 |
| Birth Place: | North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Height: | 185 cm |
| Weight: | 84 kg |
| Statsend: | 1933 |
| Years1: | 1930–1933 |
| Club1: | North Melbourne |
| Games Goals1: | 41 (4) |
Sydney Quinton Barker Jr. (15 October 1911 – 7 March 1965)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Barker was born in North Melbourne on 15 October 1911.[2] His father, Syd Barker Sr., was then playing for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association and would go on to captain-coach the club in the VFL.[3]
A follower, Barker was described as being sturdily built like his father, who died in March 1930.[4] [5] It was that year that Barker Junior joined the club and he made his debut in round 12, against St Kilda.[6] He played in all of North Melbourne's remaining games that season and appeared in all 18 rounds of the 1931 VFL season.[6] It was not until 1932 that he featured in a win, with North Melbourne having lost all 26 of his prior games.[6] [7] This is the longest streak of losses before a first win for any player who has not played for St Kilda or University.[7] He played six games that year and another 10 in 1933, then was omitted from the North Melbourne list.
He sought a clearance to Essendon in 1934, for which he required a residential clearance from South Melbourne, as he lived in Middle Park.[8] [9] The clearance was granted by South Melbourne and he joined Essendon in June, but he would not get to appear in league football for his new club.[6] [10]