Neil Balme
| Neil Balme | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Balme in December 2016
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 15 January 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Perth, Western Australia | ||
| Height / weight | 194 cm / 104 kg | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1968 | Subiaco | 4 | |
| 1970–1979 | Richmond | 159 (229) | |
| 1981–1982 | Norwood | 13 (22) | |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1980–1990 | Norwood | 270 (162–106–2) | |
| 1991–1992 | WWT Eagles | 49 (32–17–0) | |
| 1993–1997 | Melbourne | 98 (41–57–0) | |
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Neil Allen Balme (born 15 January 1952 in Perth, Western Australia) is a former Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1969 and 1979 for the Richmond Football Club.
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 to Western Australian Football League (WAFL) club Subiaco in 1969. Aged just 17, Balme created a huge impression with a strong performance in the ruck against future Australian Football Hall of Famer Graham "Polly" Farmer in a game against West Perth Football Club. Shortly after, he was lured to Melbourne to play with Richmond.
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. In 1970, 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 in 1971 as a forward/relief ruckman and performed well on the big stage during the Tigers' finals matches.
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