The Shepparton product arrived on the scene as a mature-aged recruit when he was 23 years of age after being overlooked in multiple drafts, selected by Fremantle in the 2010 Rookie Draft after training with both St Kilda and Essendon earlier in the pre-season.

Michael Barlow can be looked at as a pioneer for the dozens of success stories of mature-aged recruits coming through the system over the past few years, setting the path for many to follow in his footsteps.

On debut for the Dockers, Barlow accumulated 33 possessions and two goals. Weeks later, he would win the Ross Glendinning Medal for best on ground in the Western Derby against the Eagles.

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Just as it seemed he had finally made it as an elite footballer, Barlow suffered a horrific broken leg, missing not only the last eight games of his maiden season but the first 12 rounds of the 2011 Premiership season.

The prolific midfielder went on to play consistent football for Fremantle over the next four seasons, registering games tallies of 24, 24, 19 and 24 including the Dockers’ 2013 Grand Final loss.

After seven years and 126 games in the West, Barlow was delisted by the Dockers at the end of 2016, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in his last game in purple.

Now representing the Gold Coast SUNS, Barlow admits that he takes nothing for granted in this game, which is reflected in the way he approaches training and game days.

With increased depth in the engine room at Metricon Stadium at 2017, Barlow knows he’ll need to be at his best with such hot competition for spots ahead of the SUNS’ round one clash against Brisbane on March 25.

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“My philosophy and my attitude to it doesn’t change, and hasn’t changed since I got drafted all those years ago,” Barlow told reporters at SUNS headquarters on Tuesday.

“I always play on edge and feel like I’m on edge and nothing comes for granted in this game. The way this midfield group and the availability we’ve got at the moment makes the JLT Series pretty important for us all.

“With Gary [Ablett] coming back, Jarryd Lyons hopefully get one in this week or the next week. Pearce Hanley’s going really well Aaron Hall, it’s pretty exciting just to say those names, what we’ve got at our disposal and get some work in together and come that first game hopefully going really well.”