Harley Balic (5 January 1997 – 9 January 2022) was a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
| Harley Balic | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 5 January 1997 | ||
| Date of death | 9 January 2022 (aged 25) | ||
| Original team(s) | Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 38, 2015 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 3, 2017, Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs, at Domain Stadium | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2016–2017 | Fremantle | 4 (3) | |
| 2018 | Melbourne | 0 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2017. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Balic was born in Sandringham and grew up in Mordialloc. His father Eddie was of Bosnian descent, and his mother Nancy was of Italian and German descent.[1] Balic played for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup and was drafted by Fremantle with their second selection and 38th overall in the 2015 national draft.[2] In 2016, he was a member of the Peel Thunder premiership team, collecting 20 disposals in the WAFL Grand Final.[3]
Balic made his AFL debut in the sixteen-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium in round three of the 2017 season.[4] After playing four games for the Dockers in 2017, he was placed on indefinite leave for "personal reasons".[5] Later that year, Balic requested a trade home to Victoria and was traded to Melbourne in October.[6] In August 2018 at the age of 21, Balic retired after losing passion for the game.[7]
Balic died on 9 January 2022, four days after his 25th birthday.[8] After his death, Balic's father indicated he had died due to a battle with drug addiction.[9]
Statistics
edit- Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[10]
G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2016 | Fremantle | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | Fremantle | 24 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 13 | 13 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 13.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| 2018 | Melbourne | 27 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 4 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 13 | 13 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 13.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | ||
References
edit- ^ "Going places: 'Nothing will be the same again'". afl.com.au.
- ^ Amy, Paul (25 November 2015). "He went later than expected in the draft but Harley Balic has joined Fremantle Dockers". Mordialloc Chelsea Leader. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "Fremantle Club statement". fremantlefc.com.au. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Quartermaine, Braden (6 April 2017). "Harley Balic, Griffin Logue to debut for Fremantle against Western Bulldogs". PerthNow. Seven West Media. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "Harley Balic club statement". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Balic joins Melbourne from Freo". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Harley Balic retirement". 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Ex-Docker Harley Balic dies aged 25". PerthNow. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Father of late AFL player Harley Balic hits out at league in heartbreaking claim". Fox Sports. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Harley Balic". AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
External links
edit- Harley Balic's playing statistics from AFL Tables