Harley Balic Explained

Harley Balic
Birth Date:5 January 1997
Originalteam:Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup)
Draftpick:No. 38, 2015 national draft
Debutdate:Round 3, 2017
Debutstadium:Domain Stadium
Height:187 cm
Weight:86 kg
Position:Midfielder
Guernsey:27
Years1:2016 - 2017
Games Goals1:4 (3)
Years2:2018
Games Goals2:0 (0)
Statsend:2017

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).

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 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]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2018 season[9] |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016|| 24 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017|| 24 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 26 || 26 || 52 || 13 || 13 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 6.5 || 6.5 || 13.0 || 3.3 || 3.3|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018|| 27 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-! colspan=3| Career! 4! 3! 1! 26! 26! 52! 13! 13! 0.8! 0.3! 6.5! 6.5! 13.0! 3.3! 3.3|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Going places: 'Nothing will be the same again'. afl.com.au.
  2. News: He went later than expected in the draft but Harley Balic has joined Fremantle Dockers. Amy. Paul. 25 November 2015. Mordialloc Chelsea Leader. News Corp Australia. 9 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Fremantle Club statement. fremantlefc.com.au. 11 January 2022. 11 January 2022.
  4. News: Harley Balic, Griffin Logue to debut for Fremantle against Western Bulldogs. Quartermaine. Braden. 6 April 2017. PerthNow. Seven West Media. 9 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Harley Balic club statement. fremantlefc.com.au. 17 May 2017.
  6. Web site: Balic joins Melbourne from Freo. melbournefc.com.au. 18 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Harley Balic retirement. 2 August 2018.
  8. Web site: 2022-01-10. Ex-Docker Harley Balic dies aged 25. 2022-01-10. PerthNow. en.
  9. Web site: Harley Balic. AFL Tables. 10 October 2017.