MEMO to all AFL players: Michael Barlow's glittering performance for Fremantle on Saturday night is a textbook lesson on how to handle being dropped.
The veteran on-baller racked up 26 touches, including 10 contested possessions, and kicked a goal to be among the Dockers' best in Saturday night's 79-point victory over Essendon.
The match was Barlow's second back at AFL level since he was axed for the club's round-eight clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania.
The standout showing was not lost on teammate Lee Spurr.
"The way he went back to the WAFL and didn't just sook but took it really positively and said, 'Look, I'm going to keep playing, keep chugging along and put my hand up and have some really strong performances' was great," Spurr said.
"He forced his way back in, and it's no surprise he's contributed to success on the field back at AFL level."
Barlow was the highest-profile casualty of Fremantle's woeful start to 2016, and his on-field struggles were laid bare in the early rounds as the reigning minor premiers began their season with 10 straight defeats.
But the 28-year-old did not take long to turn things around after being sent to the state league.
He amassed 83 disposals in his two games for the Dockers WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder, with his best-on-ground showing against East Perth, in which he had 44 touches, 13 tackles, seven inside 50s and three goals in the wet, particularly impressive.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon said Barlow's performance was "a step in the right direction" but that he would face bigger challenges than the club's comfortable round-11 victory.
Spurr was slightly more glowing in his assessment.
"Mick's a really great fella around the club and you know he gives his all, every week regardless of how we're going," Spurr said.
"To see him come out and perform the way he did was really good for him, but it's no surprise when you know the character of the bloke, and everyone knows his back story and where he's come from, so you know he's of great substance."
Barlow was up against Essendon's David Zaharakis for much of the clash, who had a forgettable trip west.
Zaharakis has given Bombers fans plenty to cheer about this season but did not touch the ball in the opening term and finished with only 11 possessions.
The 20.6 (126) to 6.11 (47) triumph was the first AFL victory for Dockers youngsters Sam Collins, Connor Blakely and Darcy Tucker.
"There are some players who haven't had a win yet and they got in the circle," Spurr said.
"This (losing) has been a foreign experience at our club in the last four years. It was really good to get those players in there and reward them and have that camaraderie and that experience."
