Former AFL player's death probed as part of investigation into drug ...
Sport Integrity Australia is reportedly probing the death of a former Melbourne and Fremantle player as part of its investigation into the AFL’s illicit drug policy.
Harley Balic died in January 2022, days after his 25th birthday.
Harley Balic during his time at Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
Two people close to Balic, who would not speak publicly because of the sensitivities of his case, have confirmed to this masthead that he battled drug addiction, anxiety and mental health issues.
The Herald Sun reported on Wednesday that Balic’s case was referenced in a statement made by former Melbourne doctor Zeeshan Arain, which was handed to Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) by federal MP Andrew Wilkie last month, and that Dr Arain had been interviewed by SIA investigators.
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The Herald Sun reported that Dr Arain said in his statement: “Often list management is used to solve a lot of problems.
“It gets to the point where they (AFL clubs) are like, ‘Well, if we can’t help this player, we will move them on.’
“And the problem is that the player doesn’t cease to exist to be a person once they are not in your club, the duty of care still goes on.
“Take Harley Balic, for example. A few years after Harley Balic left the Melbourne Football Club, he was dead related to drug use.”
At the time of Balic’s death, Victoria Police said it would prepare a report for the coroner.
His death was not treated as suspicious.
Zeeshan Arain during his time as club doctor at Melbourne.Credit: Getty
Balic’s father Eddie told the Herald Sun on Wednesday: “I believe that the AFL has a duty of care to formally intervene early into young vulnerable players who have been identified as having substance abuse issues.
“I also feel that had better support been put in place early for my son, it may have prevented this tragic outcome.
“The huge disappointment is that the AFL knew a lot and as a family we weren’t told. We may have saved him earlier.
“To this day it disappoints me that no one from senior management of the AFL has ever made contact with me over the terrible loss of my son.”
This masthead has contacted the Balic family for comment.
Dr Arain, Sport Integrity Australia and the Demons declined to comment on Wednesday. The AFL and Dockers have also been contacted for comment.
Sport Integrity Australia announced in March it would investigate allegations around illicit drug tests in the AFL, following accusations made in parliament by Wilkie.
“My comments about the testing were just factual. I wasn’t revealing a scandal. The illicit drugs policy is probably one of the better things the AFL does. If this becomes a strict name and shame policy and I have contributed to that, I will feel really remorseful for the players.”
Balic played four games for the Dockers at the start of 2017 after they drafted him at pick 38 in the 2015 AFL national draft. He also played in Peel Thunder’s 2016 premiership team. He spoke openly about his battles with mental health and anxiety during his career.
A talented junior basketballer, Balic began his football career with Mordialloc Braeside in Melbourne’s south-east before becoming an All-Australian at under-18 level, having played for Vic Metro.
With Peter Ryan
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