Sydney Swans co-captain (Big Bad) Barry Hall returns to the field this weekend after a seven week suspension during which time he also recovered from a broken wrist.
Why the nickname? Well, this current suspension comes after the 6' 4" Baz - who is a keen boxer and is rumoured to have been offered a $10 million contract to enter the ring - smashed West Coast Eagles player Brent Staker with full force and a closed fist right on the jaw in a match during Round 4, in May. Footage of the shocking incident played on news broadcasts around the world and Staker spent the rest of the match on the sidelines in a neck brace, looking dazed. Barry later put his fist through a metal fence - during the same game - while sliding into a play and broke his wrist, though he showed little if any pain or response when the break took place.
He's been suspended before in 2000 for headbutting Kangaroos player Adam Simpson, and in 2001 when he flattened Geelong's Joel Corey, and he nearly missed the Grand Final in 2005 when he "tapped" St Kilda's Matt Maguire in the stomach.
There's no doubting Big Bad Barry's volatility and temper, or his strength. There's no doubting his hulking physique either, or his blokey, give-me-a-beer-or-I'll thump-you brand of charm.