| Neil Balme | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Balme in December 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname(s) | Balmey | ||
| Date of birth | (1952-01-15)15 January 1952 (age 73) | ||
| Place of birth | Perth, Western Australia | ||
| Height | 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Weight | 104 kg (229 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1968 | Subiaco | 4(0) | |
| 1970–1979 | Richmond | 159 (229) | |
| 1981–1982 | Norwood | 13(22) | |
| Total | 176 (251) | ||
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1980–1990 | Norwood | 270 (162–106–2) | |
| 1991–1992 | Woodville-West Torrens | 49(32–17–0) | |
| 1993–1997 | Melbourne | 98(41–57–0) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Neil Allen Balme (born 15 January 1952) is a formerAustralian rules footballer who played for theRichmond Football Club in theVictorian Football League (VFL), as well as for theSubiaco Football Club in theWestern Australian National Football League (WANFL) and theNorwood Football Club in theSouth Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Throughout his involvement in football, as a player, coach and administrator, Balme has experienced premiership success across a number of clubs.
Balme was one of three brothers, the others beingIan andCraig, to play League football. As a player, Balme was one of football's wild men, a man mountain who often threw his weight around resulting in many tribunal appearances. But he was also a skilled, thoughtful footballer who could take a strong, contested mark and boot the ball long distances. After retiring, he built a reputation as a football coach and later administrator that highlighted his innovative thinking about the game.
Balme played his junior football with Wembley Athletic Club, after leaving Mount Pleasant Amateurs, before transferring toWestern Australian Football League (WAFL) clubSubiaco in 1968. Aged just 16, Balme created a huge impression with a strong performance in the ruck against futureAustralian Football Hall of FamerGraham "Polly" Farmer in a game againstWest Perth Football Club. In January 1969, he moved to Melbourne with his family. He was quickly enticed to sign with Richmond along with his older brother Ian Balme.
It was a riches back to rags situation after the move. The Tigers believed that the youngster needed some rounding to his still raw game. Balme found himself playing at thirds (under 19) level with the Tigers. At season's end, he played in the team's third consecutive premiership under famous junior coach,Ray Jordon. In1970, Balme continued his development with the Tiger reserves, and broke through for three senior games late in the year.
At this point, Richmond were in the process of generational change in the team after two premierships in the late 1960s. The club demanded strong, vigorous ruck players and identified the potential in Balme to continue the tradition. He was a team regular in1971 as a forward/relief ruckman and performed well on the big stage during the Tigers' finals matches.
Balme stood out with his height, big physique, long, flowing hair and penchant for throwing his weight around. For1972, the club recruited another player in a similar mould inCarlton'sRicky McLean, who played next to Balme at full forward. The duo booted a combined total of 110 goals for the season and created terror among opposing defenders with their vigorous approach to the game. Balme was less effective in the finals, saving his best game for theGrand Final when he booted five goals in a losing performance against Carlton. He also provided several goals for teammates with intelligent tap-ons, hit outs and shepherds, an under-emphasised aspect of his game.
Twelve months later, Balme and his teammates fronted the same opposition in the1973 VFL Grand Final, determined to avenge their shock loss. Richmond started well, and in the second quarter began to dominate the game. Balme instigated two incidents during this period that remain controversial to this day. Firstly, he threw a round arm punch into the jaw of his opponent, Carlton full backGeoff Southby. Although Southby was able to regain his feet after slumping to the ground, he had severe concussion and was replaced by a reserve at half time. Minutes later, Balme launched a flurry of punches at Carlton'sVin Waite during a scramble for the ball in the Richmond goalsquare. This sparked a small melee as the two teams converged on Balme and Waite. The umpire had a good sight of the incident and reported Balme, who was later suspended. It mattered little to the Tigers, who went on to win the game by five goals and annexe their third flag in seven years. But the club didn't escape criticism that they planned the two incidents before the game. Richmond players and officials have always defended Balme's actions, claiming that there was no way Balme premeditated his attacks on the Carlton players.
After serving his suspension early thefollowing season, Balme returned to the side and was one of the driving forces behind the Tigers' performance in finishing on top of the ladder. He played well in the finals and aged 22 was apremiership player for the second time. Balme confirmed his status as a big-game performer in the1975 finals, when Richmond finished third. By now, Balme was at the peak of his game and had a real presence on the field. Although, at 193 cm, he was often conceding height to other ruckman, he was surprisingly mobile and agile and never beaten in a one-on-one physical confrontation.
Richmond then lost a number of ruckman, allowing Balme to play more football on the ball and he was appointed vice captain of the club for the1976 VFL season. Balme had his best-ever season in1977, finishing second in Richmond's Best and Fairest award, theJack Dyer Medal, and was chosen to play for his native Western Australia in the first state of origin match in October. Unfortunately, his finals campaign was hindered by a late season suspension, causing him to miss the first week of the finals. The following week he returned, only to be stymied by his North Melbourne opposition, who made a last-minute switch to his opponent that left Balme and his teammates off-guard. Richmond lost the match convincingly and were eliminated.
After a solid season in1978, Balme's career suddenly curtailedthe following year. He had missed just seven games in the preceding four seasons, but suffered his first major injury when he hurt his knee. Restricted to just two games for the year and usurped as first ruckman at Richmond byMark Lee, Balme shocked the club when he accepted life membership and then retired from the game, aged only 27. Balme then shifted toSouth Australia, where he was snapped up bySouth Australian National Football League (SANFL) clubNorwood as coach.
Balme's stint at Norwood lasted eleven seasons during which his team never missed the finals. They won premierships in 1982 and 1984, earning Balme an excellent reputation and several overtures to return to Victoria and coach. Richmond were among the suitors for his talents. But Balme felt that the game was stagnating in its home state, dragged down by an emphasis on negativity and physicality. He encouraged a fast, open and skilful passing game that he believed was the future of the code.
In 1991, Balme left Norwood and became the inaugural coach of the newWoodville-West Torrens Football Club, formed from the merger ofWoodville andWest Torrens at the end of 1990. His success there proved that a merged entity could work at a time when AFL clubs were facing the prospect of merger to stay viable in the new, fully professional era. Eventually, he succumbed to the lure of coaching in the AFL and was appointed to leadMelbourne Football Club for the1993 AFL season.
Balme's persistence with a strategic, high-possession, low-impact game plan earned both praise and ridicule. When the style succeeded it was attractive and hard to counter. However, when broken down by intense tackling, the players (and the coach) could look foolish and inept. Melbourne made it all way to the preliminary final in1994, but struggled thereafter. Melbourne's poor record from 1995 on was due in part to injury to stars includingGarry Lyon,David Schwarz, andStephen Tingay. Balme's reasoned, personable style and his insistence on player self-empowerment made him very media-friendly, but some questioned whether he was suited to coaching in the AFL.
Balme and his players were caught in the turmoil surrounding the club's proposal to merge withHawthorn Football Club in1996. The team slumped and after a number of embarrassing performances in1997, Balme was sacked after Round 9 and eight successive losses by the controversial new Demons president,Joe Gutnick. He was replaced byGreg Hutchison for the rest of the season.[1]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks | H/O | Hit-outs |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | |||||
| 1970 | Richmond | 21 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 30 | 7 | — | 11 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 6.3 | 3.7 | 10.0 | 2.3 | — | 3.7 | 0 |
| 1971 | Richmond | 21 | 17 | 28 | 19 | 150 | 34 | 184 | 71 | — | 34 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 10.8 | 4.2 | — | 2.0 | 0 |
| 1972 | Richmond | 21 | 20 | 55 | 30 | 150 | 35 | 185 | 73 | — | 59 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 7.5 | 1.8 | 9.3 | 3.7 | — | 3.7 | 2 |
| 1973† | Richmond | 21 | 13 | 34 | 28 | 88 | 35 | 123 | 47 | — | 25 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 9.5 | 3.6 | — | 1.9 | 1 |
| 1974† | Richmond | 21 | 18 | 37 | 21 | 170 | 90 | 260 | 80 | — | 7 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 9.4 | 5.0 | 14.4 | 4.4 | — | 7.0 | 0 |
| 1975 | Richmond | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 225 | 113 | 338 | 114 | — | 133 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 4.7 | 14.1 | 4.8 | — | 11.1 | 0 |
| 1976 | Richmond | 21 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 193 | 95 | 288 | 97 | — | 156 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 9.2 | 4.5 | 13.7 | 4.6 | — | 7.4 | 0 |
| 1977 | Richmond | 21 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 233 | 204 | 437 | 118 | — | 352 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 10.6 | 9.3 | 19.9 | 5.4 | — | 16.0 | 10 |
| 1978 | Richmond | 21 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 119 | 115 | 234 | 51 | — | 175 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 13.0 | 2.8 | — | 10.3 | 3 |
| 1979 | Richmond | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | — | 1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | — | 0.5 | 0 |
| Career | 159 | 229 | 151 | 1351 | 736 | 2087 | 660 | — | 953 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 8.6 | 4.7 | 13.2 | 4.2 | — | 7.5 | 16 | ||
| Legend | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Wins | L | Losses | D | Draws | W% | Winning percentage | LP | Ladder position | LT | League teams | ||
| Season | Team | Games | W | L | D | W % | LP | LT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Melbourne | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 50.0% | 10 | 15 |
| 1994 | Melbourne | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 56.0% | 7 | 15 |
| 1995 | Melbourne | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 40.9% | 9 | 16 |
| 1996 | Melbourne | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 31.8% | 14 | 16 |
| 1997* | Melbourne | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 11.1% | 16 | 16 |
| Career totals | 98 | 41 | 57 | 0 | 41.8% | |||
* Replaced by caretaker coachGreg Hutchison.
Balme found a position more suited to his personality when he was appointed football operations manager at the strugglingCollingwood in1998. In2000, he was joined by former Richmond teammateMick Malthouse (as coach) as part of an ambitious plan to lift the ailing Magpies up the ladder. Balme's calm, rational demeanour and casual style proved to be a great foil to Malthouse's more intense and temperamental character and the team made it to the2002 and2003 AFL Grand Finals, only to lose both matches to theBrisbane Lions.
Surprisingly, Balme was moved sideways by Collingwood at the end of the2006 AFL season and he opted to accept an offer fromGeelong Football Club to act as football operations manager in2007, for the Cats, the year in which the club won its firstPremiership in 44 years. The success at Geelong continued throughout his tenure, with two more Premierships (2009, 2011) and a Grand Final appearance (2008).After eight years at Geelong, Balme was offered and accepted the newly created director of coaching role with Collingwood at the end of 2014.[4]
In September 2016 Balme left Collingwood to accept the position of General Manager of Football atRichmond.[5] In his first year Richmond went on to win 2017 Premiership, breaking a 37-year drought. This drought breaking performance by theRichmond Football Club was backed up by aminor premiership in 2018 then going on to win another two AFL premierships in 2019–2020 seasons.In 2024 Balme completed his tenure at Richmond Football Club. In 2025 Balme was appointed a Director at the Adelaide Football Club.
