The following is a article by Jon Pierik that appeared in The Age surrounding John Barker's interim appointment as Carlton Senior Coach.

John Barker knows all about perseverance – first as a player during his time with Fitzroy, the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn. Now, after almost nine years as an assistant coach, he gets his chance to show why he is considered a future senior coach.

Barker, one of nine men anointed as a coach-in-waiting in March when admitted into the AFL's level-four coaching accreditation course, will take charge of the Blues in a caretaker role for the rest of the season after Mick Malthouse was sacked.

His friend, and former Hawthorn teammate and fellow forward Nick Holland, believes Barker has the attributes required to succeed.

"He is good at engaging with people and he has the right balance between being able to share a joke with the group but, at the right time, step up and provide those leadership qualities," Holland said on Tuesday.

"It's a really interesting and important time for him to do that now until the end of the season. I am really looking forward to seeing him in that role because I think he has the qualities.

"He just now needs to take that next step. He has had Mick Malthouse, who commands that respect, but I think John can do that. It showed as a player."

Drafted in 1992, Barker played 168 senior matches between 1994 and 2006, but his career was cruelled by back and hamstring woes. He missed most of the 1993 season because of injury, but would notch 47 matches with Fitzroy, before he was one of seven players to head to Brisbane as part of the merged club after the 1996 season. He had only eight games with Brisbane in 1997, and was traded to Hawthorn as part of a deal for Brad Scott.

He struggled initially with the Hawks but emerged as a crucial cog from 2000 to 2002, with his high marking and 47 goals helping his team into the 2001 preliminary final. He would finish equal third in the best and fairest. However, injuries would curtail the rest of his career, and he prepared for life post football, including completing a degree in commerce at Melbourne University.

So popular was Barker, though, that some teammates were prepared to cede their positions in order for him to be given a farewell match in the final round of 2006.

"With any coach, someone who has had to work hard in their playing career understands what it takes to be a good player and can teach that," Holland said.

"That's why you often see those type of players who have overcome adversity go on to be good coaches. I think Barks has shown he can do that and, hopefully, that will translate."

Barker had two years as a forward-line coach to Ross Lyon at St Kilda, before rejoining the Hawks under Alastair Clarkson, fulfilling the same role. He has been at Carlton since 2011, working beside Brett Ratten and, until Tuesday, Malthouse.

Barker, 40, had control of a struggling and undersized back line this season but is said to have retained his positive vibe amid injuries and the gloom of a campaign gone wrong.

Blues president Mark LoGiudice has backed Barker to do what is required, with club chief executive Steven Trigg adding that Barker's "charter" is to make the Blues competitive after enjoying just the one win from the opening eight rounds.

"I am confident that his strong leadership and respectful relationship with the playing group will ensure he steps into this role seamlessly," LoGiudice said.

"John will nurture our younger talent and give them a chance to shine, while balancing their skills with the experience of our more senior players. This is also an opportunity for our players to demonstrate their commitment and show their passion for our jumper."

Veteran playmaker Chris Judd said the Blues needed to remain united under Barker.

"That's the idea as a club – we need to make sure we stick together and stay united as a club and we support John," he said.

Barker's former Hawthorn teammate Campbell Brown was also supportive of the Blues' choice.

"Good luck John Barker. Best apprenticeship in footy under Lyon, Clarko and Mick. Will be hard but fair, approachable, honest and a great teacher," Brown said on Twitter.

In an interview earlier this year, Barker stressed the importance of establishing strong relationships with his players. This was something Malthouse had been good at for so long, and even felt at the bitter end he had not "lost" his players.

"Given the demographic of who we work with now, relationships are critical," Barker said.

"In short, they're a means to an end, because if you want to have high performance, you need to have a relationship. It doesn't mean you're their best friend, but you need to engage them enough to have a really strong element of trust and to have empathy and to let them know that you've got an element of belief in them."

Belief has clearly been missing among the Blues' playing group for some weeks. Barker's challenge, with the wise heads of veteran assistant coaches Dean Laidley and Robert Wiley by his side, is to rediscover this, beginning against the Swans on Friday night.

Whether Barker is any chance to enjoy the top role permanently is another story, with Trigg determined to "turn over every rock" as part of the Blues' rebuild.