Barry Ion
Encyclopedia
Barry Ion is a former Australian rules football
er and radio personality. He played with Footscray
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL), Yarraville
in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA), and Woodville
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL). He became a well known radio personality in Adelaide
and Sydney
.
Ion started in radio early, commentating football matches for Melbourne radio in 1960, while also playing with the Carlton Rovers. He joined his elder brother, Graham Ion
, at Footscray in 1961 and played with him in the 1961 VFL Grand Final
, as a half back flanker. The grand final was just his sixth league game, having played just four home and away matches before the finals series. He made 29 appearances over the next two seasons, but then struggled with injuries, playing just five more games.
In 1966 he joined Yarraville
in the Victorian Football Association
, but wasn't able to play Sunday games as he was calling football for radio station 3KZ. He moved to Adelaide in 1967 and spent two seasons playing for Woodville
.
While in Adelaide, Ion began working for 5AD
and formed a radio breakfast duo with Tony Pilkington called "Bazz and Pilko". Ion voiced a character called "Peter Plus". He joined 5KA
during the 1980s, where he continued to work with Pilkington. Later in the decade, the duo brought their breakfast show to Sydney station 2UW
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and radio personality. He played with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL), Yarraville
Yarraville Football Club
Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA), and Woodville
Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles....
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL). He became a well known radio personality in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Ion started in radio early, commentating football matches for Melbourne radio in 1960, while also playing with the Carlton Rovers. He joined his elder brother, Graham Ion
Graham Ion
Graham Ion is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League .Ion made his league debut at just 17 years of age, against Melbourne at Western Oval in 1958...
, at Footscray in 1961 and played with him in the 1961 VFL Grand Final
1961 VFL Grand Final
The 1961 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Footscray Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 23 September 1961. It was the 65th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
, as a half back flanker. The grand final was just his sixth league game, having played just four home and away matches before the finals series. He made 29 appearances over the next two seasons, but then struggled with injuries, playing just five more games.
In 1966 he joined Yarraville
Yarraville Football Club
Yarraville Football Club was an Australian rules football club founded in 1903 and played in the VJFA until 1927. In 1928, the club joined the VFA where it played until 1984 when the club went into recess. In 1996, the Kingsville Football Club in the FDFL who by this time had taken over the...
in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
, but wasn't able to play Sunday games as he was calling football for radio station 3KZ. He moved to Adelaide in 1967 and spent two seasons playing for Woodville
Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles....
.
While in Adelaide, Ion began working for 5AD
MIX 102.3
Mix 102.3 is a commercial radio station in Adelaide, Australia, owned by The Australian Radio Network .Mix 102.3 plays current hits and a variety of 70s, 80s and 90s music , primarily targeted at the 25-54 age group, the group most valued by advertisers...
and formed a radio breakfast duo with Tony Pilkington called "Bazz and Pilko". Ion voiced a character called "Peter Plus". He joined 5KA
5MMM
5MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30 - 54 age group...
during the 1980s, where he continued to work with Pilkington. Later in the decade, the duo brought their breakfast show to Sydney station 2UW
Mix 106.5
Mix 106.5 is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network...
.