Speaking to the media for the first time in Eagles colours, the 2013 Claremont Colts premiership captain says leadership is a big part of his football.
“I’m definitely keen for leadership roles at the club as time progresses if I can really cement a spot and hopefully make a big impact on the team,” the 18 year-old said.
“Leadership is definitely a big thing that comes with footy for me.”
Barrass is in the perfect position to become a future leader at the club, a young key defender who will no doubt spend plenty of time working with current captain Darren Glass.
“He’s one of the boys I really want to get to know, I’ve had a bit to do with him with State 18’s,” he said.
“A backman, he’s the captain of the club obviously and a great leader with a big body and he’s one of the best players in the team, a super valuable player.
“I’m really looking forward to getting some knowledge off him, some leadership skills and also footy knowledge off him.”
Barrass arrived at the club he supported as a boy last Friday, and admits he was a little unsure as to how to act now that his former heroes were now his team mates.
“It’s a bit unusual because they’re the boys you watch on TV,” Barrass said.
“Especially being an Eagles man, you look up to them and you think ‘I want to be like him’.
“To meet them all now is unreal, you are pinching yourself, it’s an unusual feeling for sure.
“I love to get around the boys, and I’m looking forward to meeting them all.”
Things couldn’t have worked out more perfectly for Barrass, who believes playing the majority of his footy in front of local recruiters helped his chances of remaining in WA.
“I think playing a lot of footy in WA and the Eagles being a WA team and being able to watch a fair bit if my footy (helped ),” he said.
“You have a few ideas and you hear rumours and things like that, but at the end of the day they’re just rumours and it’s just talk.
“Especially with a draft pool like this one, it’s pretty unpredictable, so anything could have happened.
“Until your names called out you really don’t have much of an idea.
“It’s great to stay in my home state; I’ve been an Eagles boy since I can remember.”
Perhaps what sealed his fate at the Eagles was his sensational performance in last year’s WAFL Colts Grand Final, where he led the Tigers to a six point win.
“It was great to get up in the grand final; it was one of the greatest experiences in my life,” said Barrass.
“It was great to have a nice game like that in front of the recruiting team.
“There’s times in games where you’ve got to turn it on, I suppose you just do it subconsciously.
“I just did my best for the team.”
Helping his transition into AFL life is the fact he’s close with two of his fellow draftees in Dom Sheed and Dylan Main, both team mates of his from the State 18’s carnival earlier this year.
“It’s so good, it’s great to have ‘Skinny’ (Main) and also Dom, because they’re sort of in the same boat as well,” he said.
“I can go with them if I’m having any troubles, and obviously being mates and playing state with them, you know how they play and how they are and what they like.
“It’s almost really lucky, all the cards have fallen into place for me nicely so it’s a really exciting time.”
