Barlow also won Shepparton United's best and fairest at age 19 before moving to the Victorian Football League (VFL) at the end of the 2007 season.

[6] After training with St Kilda during the 2009 pre-season and with Essendon after the 2009 season,[7] Barlow was drafted to Fremantle Football Club with their first selection in the 2010 Rookie Draft—the eighth overall.

[11] He made a successful debut for Fremantle in the opening round of the 2010 AFL season, gaining 33 possessions and kicking two goals, and was named as one of the best players on the ground.

Barlow gathered 25 disposals to be one of the Dockers best in the huge 89-point loss to the Demons in what was deemed a successful return to AFL football.

He returned as the substitute in the round 17 clash against Sydney at the SCG, collecting 11 disposals after being activated on to the ground at three-quarter time.

[20] Barlow had played in every game for the Suns in 2017 until he again broke the fibula in his left leg whilst being tackled by Bryce Gibbs during a match against Carlton in round 13.

[25] Barlow joined the North Melbourne Football Club and replaced Gavin Brown as their new Head of Development ahead of the 2024 AFL season.