VAFA club Parkdale Vultures puts out the welcome mat to Harley Barlic

Harley Barlic walked away from the AFL because he said his heart wasn’t in football. Parkdale Vultures are keen for him to rediscover his love for the game in the VAFA.

FORGET about tall tallies of possessions or bags of goals.

Above all else, Parkdale Vultures coach Owen Lalor would like Harley Balic to rediscover his love of the game.

After two seasons with Fremantle, the half forward joined Melbourne this year but left the club in August.

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“It was an easy decision in the end, as I’ve thought about it for a little while now,” he told the Demons’ website.

“It’s something I’m not going to regret and I’m very appreciative of Melbourne for letting me come to the club for a second chance. I’ve always loved football, but my heart’s not in it and everything ends up being a grind and I think it’s just the right thing to do.’’

Balic’s brothers Cooper and Jesse play with Parkdale and the club has spoken to him about joining them in the VAFA next year.

The former Mordialloc Braeside junior and Parkdale Secondary College student has trained with the Vultures, who are helping him source work opportunities.

“Obviously we’re really hoping Harley will play for us, but the priority for him is, he’s just got to make sure he’s enjoying himself and he’s got his love of the game back,’’ Lalor said.

“He definitely fell out of love with footy halfway through the year, hence him leaving Melbourne.

Harley Balic playing for Sandringham Dragons.

“We’ve got to see if over the next three months he’s got the passion to play footy again.

“The great thing is, he’s got that family connection with the footy club, his two brothers and his father, who is involved behind the scenes.

“He also knows a lot of our players. About half of them went to Parkdale Secondary College. So there are family and friendships. I’ve said to him, ‘Come and have a kick and enjoy yourself, have a year where you don’t have to train six days a week and have any pressure on you’. That’s the main thing for me, him getting the bug back. Have a kick and then Saturday after the game sit around with all your mates in the clubrooms and enjoy yourself. That’s what it’s about at our level of footy. ’’

Vultures coach Owen Lalor.

Balic, 21, was drafted from the Sandringham Dragons at the end of 2015 and played four games for the Dockers in 2017.

He didn’t appear at AFL level for Melbourne but had some good moments with Casey Demons in the VFL, kicking six goals against Coburg.

Lalor said the club would be placing no pressure on Balic.

“It will be entirely up to him. If in three months he decides to have a run, we’ll be so excited. He’s a great young fella. For three years he’s been in a system that’s so demanding. Now he needs to relax a bit and work out some little opportunities at what he might be interested in, career-wise.’’

Lalor said the B section Vultures hoped to regain up to six players for 2019, including Tom Redmond and Liam Platt.