Inside Football game ratings
One view of his WAFL games. Dominant, but only a handful this year. He missed most of last year with a wrist injury, which he had at draft time. The rumour was that he fell in the draft ratings due to the wrist injury and uncertainty over the impact on his future playing ability.
Some pre-draft comments on him from Big Footy:
Snoop Dog
Pick 13 Adelaide - Harley Balic (Sandringham Dragons / 186cm / 80kg)
Lovely looking player who just glides around the park and looks pretty effortless. Basketball background and has that spacial awareness, time and poise kids from that background often have. Does all things pretty well but its his work rate that I like. Clean at the stoppages and very sure with his hands. Ball use is good and he is very good in the air. Has played HF and HB as well but I think he will start more as a HF type who when they body is right will push up. His ability to do special things is evident and he could be attacking near goal.
Why: Be a nice addition to the Crows mids but you could realistically see so many kids in this spot. Burton could be but I think he will be there at the next. Bonner as well is a type they want but with Seedsman and Hampton they may be covered.
Knightmare
Pick 17. Harley Balic (VIC – MID/FWD)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 05/01/1997
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Reminds me of: Poor man’s Jackson Macrae
Brief bio: Balic has some tricks and plays with that basketballer several other recent draftees have. Balic stands out most with his decision making ability and vision with ball in hand. He consistently chooses the right option and often finds some really damaging targets. In terms of execution while he has the vision and decision making ability by hand and foot it can be a mixed bag as sometimes he will hit his targets, and other times miss. Similarly finishing from set shots and field kicks at goal further improvement is required as he lacks consistency in front of goal. He is also more of a short-medium distance kicker as someone with only average penetration. A further strength of Balic’s is his strength of marking overhead with his leaping ability making him a threat in the air which gives him potential to play forward of centre. Athletically Balic is good overall. He is not a linebreaking threat but moves well, has strong endurance and excellent leaping ability. As a contested ball winner Balic at this stage is not a factor as someone who is a receiver at this point.
Emma Quale
Pick 22 (Sandringham Dragons. 187cm. 82kg)
Smooth-moving midfielder who gets involved all over the ground.
The rationale: The Roos have a strong crew of inside midfielders. Balic would provide a point of difference. He can move through all three parts of the ground and slides easily through traffic.
Big Footy Phantom Draft (multiple respected posters, one for each team)
Pick 8 Gold Coast
At the moment Harley is a talented prospect who has a lot of upside. His performances have been good this year and he has really improved this year. You look at some of the good afl players and a lot of them have had draft years where they have really improved. I look at Harley and see a kid who has a ton of improvement left and has the potential to be a very good midfielder. His awareness is excellent, he has time with the ball, good vision and makes good decisions. He is an above average athlete yet not elite and he moves well. The upside is his disposal is improving and he is good above his head. He wins clearances yet not at a great level yet, he is not soft and is strong over the ball. He finds the ball well and his ball use improved. He is not an elite kick, they float a little and he is not proven as a mid so he is a risky pick. He does have the tools to be an A grade player. I was hoping Francis or Parish slid to this pick but alas it was not to be.
Lemming (I admit, no idea who he is but he wrote something on the players…)
Pick 8. Harley Balic - VM (186.0 cm, 80.0 kg - Midfielder)
Reminds me a little of a younger Mundy. Looks like he is only going at half pace and you want him to look more active. He has grown on me as a player. (He may get adjusted down in my rankings at some point)
Yabadoo (same issue)
Pick 18- st.kilda
The saints are crying out for midfielders, and I can see Balic developing into a smooth moving classy midfielder. Will start his career as a high half forward and build up his tank. Strong overhead.