“I wouldn’t be playing on if I didn’t think that we still have a really good team and that we can have a really good tilt at finals next year as well,” Barry said.
“That’s one of the main reasons why I decided to play on. It’s great to have it all (the new contract) done so that I can concentrate on the year coming up.”
However, the 31-year-old considered retirement after the semi-final defeat to the Bulldogs.
“The thought does cross your mind. You always wonder when your last game could be but I think in the last month I proved that I could still play at the elite level and be a really good contributor next year.”
The defender took almost a week to decide to play on, wanting to ensure he wasn’t playing one season too many.
“My initial reaction when they offered it to me was to go away and have a think about it. I just wanted to make sure that my heart was in it and that’s certainly the case. Mentally and physically I’m feeling good," Barry said.
"There are players that play that season too long but I still feel that I can contribute. You’re retired a long time. I knew that I would miss it if I didn’t stay on, I just wasn’t quite ready.”
The 2005 premiership player, who will always be remembered for his match-saving mark in the dying moments of that grand final, conceded that season 2009 would almost certainly be his last.
“It probably will so I’m just going to enjoy each game as it comes and enjoy it as much as I can. I still think I can play a good role for the team in my position and also in helping develop the younger kids coming through. I still think I have some really good footy left in me.”
But Barry is already preparing for life after football. Having spent the last year and a half doing part-time work in stock-broking, he said he was hoping the financial crisis would have eased by the time he was looking for full time employment.
“The end’s coming and you have to make sure you have options when you finish. I’m definitely checking the market all the time these days.”
