Twenty years ago today, St Kilda legend Trevor Barker tragically lost his battle with cancer at the young age of just 39.

Across 15 years and 230 games at Moorabbin, and the years that followed his career, Barker was the heartbeat of St Kilda, providing success starved supporters with a beacon of hope and a source of pride during a bleak period in the clubs history.

Renowned for his supreme loyalty, Barker stuck true to the Saints despite lucrative overtures from a plethora of clubs during his playing days. And it’s that loyalty, coupled with his on-field brilliance, that has him held in such high regard at St Kilda Football Club that the best and fairest prize is named in his honour.

During his time at the Saints, Barker won a pair of best and fairest’s, captained the club between 1983 and 1986 before passing the baton to Danny Frawley, and represented the Big V on seven occasions.

With his phenomenal aerial skills and his fearless attack on the ball, Barker was one of the premier players in the 1980s and was named in the Saints team of the century, before being elevated to legend status in 2013.

A poster boy for the Saints during a difficult time, teammates and supporters were enamoured with the boy from Cheltenham, the man who bled red, white and black and ensured everyone felt attached to the club.

By the time cancer clutched its evil talons around him, Barker had already proven himself as an impressive coach, winning two premierships at Sandringham in the VFL. A VFL coaching career beckoned, before his life was cut short. Although it’s a part of his life not forgotten by those who experienced his tutelage first hand.

No one epitomised St Kilda’s motto, Fortius Quo Fidelius – Strength through loyalty – better than the late, great Trevor Barker. A true icon of the St Kilda Football Club.