Adrian Barich on footy, family and TV and what readers can expect from his new column in STM

Adrian Barich was hosting an event at Optus Stadium recently when a stranger bounded up to him with a delighted look on his face.

“Barra!” the man in his 30s exclaimed, as if addressing a long lost mate. “You’ve been with me throughout my entire life!”

The interaction sums up the regard in which the veteran 7News sports presenter and former AFL player, known universally as Barra, is held among friends, colleagues and the WA public who have followed his career spanning more than three decades, from inaugural West Coast Eagle to respected journalist.

And now, readers of STM will get to see a new, more personal, side to Barich as he begins a weekly column in this magazine which will touch on everything from sport and family to hot button social issues.

Readers of the PerthNow newspapers, where Barich’s popular column has been published for the past 12 months, have enjoyed his musings on everything from the “eshay” subculture to the vaping epidemic and life with he and wife Jodie’s beloved three pugs Bean, Hattie and Lilly, which Barich can be seen walking most mornings around his Subiaco neighbourhood.

Navigating parenthood as the dad of two teenagers — 17-year-old Tom, who is about to embark on his final year of school, and 18-year-old Madi — will also feature heavily in Barich’s columns.

“I’m a massive softy, they’ve just got me wrapped around their little fingers,” Barich says of his children. “They’ve turned out to be great kids. I try to be the friend, my wife tries to be the parent, which can make it hard for her — I’ve got to learn to be more like an adult.”

He laughs when admitting to “parental hypocrisy” when advising daughter Madi ahead of her first trip to Bali (“the scariest thing about raising teenagers is remembering what you did when you were a teenager”). The subsequent holiday and fake tattoo on their firstborn’s ankle — which initially fooled Jodie and caused chaos in the Barich household — made for perfect column fodder.

Barich says the column will give him an opportunity to talk about the passions in his life, yes his family and dogs but also his social conscience and involvement in the community, which keeps him busy outside of work. Barich is heavily involved in Telethon, is the president of the Shenton College P&C, where son Tom attends and Jodie works, and has just become president of the struggling Perth Demons WAFL club.

Returning to the beloved club which played such a pivotal role in his life and career — Barich played 160 games for the Demons from 1984-1994, is a life member and former best and fairest winner — means a lot to the 59-year-old.

“It’s a passion project, we’re trying to resurrect my club which hasn’t won a premiership since 1977. You have to have a supportive wife and family (to take on this role) and my son is playing colts there which is great,” he says.

“There’s a lot of work to do but there are so many fabulous people involved, and a great supporter base. In terms of my column, it will be great to give people an aspect of what it entails to turn the Queen Mary around, some of the characters involved and some of the stories.”

“If (the resurrection of the Demons) can happen it would be the greatest thing for WA footy and our fans are just dying to come out of the woodwork.”

Witnessing and reporting on epic tales of sporting redemption that capture hearts and minds is just one of the reasons Barich still loves coming to work every day and being part of the sports community.

“People look to sport to give them that lift at the end of the news. Sport is unbelievable theatre, you never know what’s going to happen, it can create great passion and get people excited… and it helps people get through life. Some people’s lives aren’t great, but if the Eagles or the Dockers have a win, it might give them some happiness for three hours over a weekend,” he says.

On the topic of redemption, Barich has been closely involved with Ben Cousins’ return to the spotlight via a weekly AFL segment alongside his mate on 7News Perth last year and a role with the Perth Demons. It is a something Barich is proud to have witnessed, and played a role in.

“One of the great things at the moment at Channel 7 is that I’ve been able to work with Ben… that’s given me a new lease on life to see what he’s been able to achieve, and it’s really fortified me about our community — that they’re open to giving people a redemption story,” he says.

“Most people have been touched by a scourge of something in their lives and this might give them hope that people can get through it. It’s really given me a bit of a lift.”

In sporting terms, he jokes that their relationship is not dissimilar to that of a companion pony assigned to a race horse to provide support, friendship and calm — a common practice in the racing industry.

“The stable pony looks after the thoroughbred and keeps the thoroughbred calm and under control, and that’s me and Ben. He’s the thoroughbred and I’m the stable pony,” he laughs.

It is these magical, enduring friendships forged through sport — and the good that can come from it — that remind Barich why it is he’s dedicated his life to it, first as a player and then with three decades in the media.

“My parents always used to say, it’s great you’re playing for the Eagles, and you’re on the telly, but is that going to help you get to heaven?,” he says.

“That puts it all into perspective, so I’ve always tried to be a good person along the way.”