Southern league: Keysborough pays tribute to former AFL player Harley Balic
Nancy Balic tossed the coin ahead of Saturday’s Keysborough-Doveton match, which recognised her son, former AFL player Harley.
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There was a minute of silence before the match.
To Nancy Balic, it felt like 10 minutes.
“It seemed to go forever. And it was very touching and emotional, yes,’’ she said as she reflected on Keysborough’s tribute to her son Harley, the former AFL player who died in January at age 25.
“Very heartfelt. Very heartwarming.’’
Even as he battled health issues, Balic popped up for two matches last year with Keysborough after forming a friendship with senior coach Chris Smith.
On Saturday Keysborough asked Nancy Balic to toss the coin before its first home game of the season, against Doveton.
Players from both teams stood in silent lines on the ground.
Harley’s younger brother, Cooper, was among them, having joined Keysborough this season.
Nancy Balic said the club had been most supportive of the family since Harley’s death, particularly Smith.
Smith, she said, “loved Harley to death’’.
“Chris is amazing. He looks a little bit rough around the edges but he’s a big, soft teddy bear,’’ she said.
“I think Harley saw someone like a father-figure in him, a genuine person who had his welfare at heart and was unconditionally there for him. He wasn’t judgmental. He had
Harley’s best interests at heart. Football wasn’t the No 1 thing. It wasn’t about football, about just getting Harley to play footy for Keysy. It was about Harley. Chris said that many, many times, ‘I don’t care about the football’. It was a bonus.’’
Cooper had decided to join Harley at Keysborough.
“When Harley passed, I did say to Coops, ‘Even though you have committed to Keysborough no one would hold it against you if you decided to go back to Parkdale’,’’ Nancy said.
“And Cooper said no, he was happy, he’d met new people, he enjoyed training and he likes the mix of the older boys and the younger ones. It’s good for him to extend his friendship group, out of the bayside bubble, so to speak.’’
On the field, Doveton, new to the Southern league, was too strong, winning 11.8 (74) to 6.8 (44) to go 2-0.
Coach Michael Cardamone was a star with four goals as the Doves paraded a mix of speed, skill and spirit.
Dylan Chapman, recruited from Officer, was the best big man on the ground and young Kai Suparta caught the eye with his pace and neat left-foot.
It’s clear the Doves will bounce straight into the top bracket of Division 2 clubs in their first season in Southern.
Elsewhere on Saturday:
* Highett is on top of the ladder after caning East Brighton 14.11 (95) to 8.7 (55), with recruit Will Barron best-afield and Mitchell Hoar kicking four goals.
* Brad Gilder (five goals) had a day out as Chelsea Heights led all the way to defeat Hampton Park 12.5 (77) to 5.16 (46).
* James Backway and Chris Smith both kicked five goals as Caulfield clouted Heatherton 17.23 (125) to 5.3 (33).
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