Has Neil Balme been the most successful person in football this century?

[Fadge]

2000 (though started in '98) to 2006 - Collingwood - Football Operations Manager - Two Grand Finals
2007 to 2013 - Geelong - Football Operations Manager - Three Premierships, one other Grand Final
2014 to 2016 - Collingwood - Director of Coaching
2017 to Current - Richmond - General Manager of Football - Two Premierships

In 20 seasons this century, he has 5 Premierships and 3 other Grand Final appearances to his name.

When he started at Collingwood, they were a basketcase, 'winning' the wooden spoon in 1999.

When he started at Geelong, they had missed the finals the previous season and hadn't won a flag for 44 years.

When he started at Richmond, they had been the laughing stock of the competition for over 30 years, and hadn't won a final for 15 seasons.

Who has a better football CV than Neil Balme since 2000?

EDIT: Standings based on other nominations in this thread (AFL level only):
Russell 7 Grand Finals, 6 Premierships
Balme 8 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Clarkson 6 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Caracella 7 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Hardwick 6 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships

 

[Dazb86]

Jarrad Grant

 

[KermitJagger]

2000 (though started in '98) to 2006 - Collingwood - Football Operations Manager - Two Grand Finals
2007 to 2013 - Geelong - Football Operations Manager - Three Premierships, one other Grand Final
2014 to 2016 - Collingwood - Director of Coaching
2017 to Current - Richmond - General Manager of Football - Two Premierships

In 20 seasons this century, he has 5 Premierships and 3 other Grand Final appearances to his name.

When he started at Collingwood, they were a basketcase, 'winning' the wooden spoon in 1999.

When he started at Geelong, they had missed the finals the previous season and hadn't won a flag for 44 years.

When he started at Richmond, they had been the laughing stock of the competition for over 30 years, and hadn't won a final for 15 seasons.

Who has a better football CV than Neil Balme since 2000?

As a Hawks supporter, I don't like doing the whole Clarko thing but:

Central Districts in the SANFL (2001 - 2002) - 2 Grand Finals, 1 premiership
Port Adelaide (2003-2004) - 2 Grand Finals, 1 premiership
Hawthorn (2005-present) - 5 Grand Finals, 4 premierships

Neil Balme seems to be a fantastic football administrator though, and there's no coincidence that he sees success at clubs.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Jarrad Grant

 

[citizen-erased]

Caracella comes close with 5 wins and 2 losses (had he hung out one more year at the pies he'd have a W and D GF to his name too)

Player
Won 2000 GF
Lost 2001 GF
Won 2003 GF
Lost 2004 GF

Asst coach
Won 2011 GF
Won 2017 GF
Won 2019 GF

 

[KermitJagger]

Even Dimma has been pretty good on that front:

Playing:
2000 win
2001 loss
2004 win

Coaching:
2008 win
2017 win
2019 win

 

[james Dean]

Clarkson followed closely by Jarrad Grant

 

[Fadge]

Jarrad Grant

Jarrad Grant

Clarkson followed closely by Jarrad Grant

Is it safe to suggest that Jarrad Grant played 95 more games of AFL football than the 3 of you combined?

 

[Power Raid]

2000 (though started in '98) to 2006 - Collingwood - Football Operations Manager - Two Grand Finals
2007 to 2013 - Geelong - Football Operations Manager - Three Premierships, one other Grand Final
2014 to 2016 - Collingwood - Director of Coaching
2017 to Current - Richmond - General Manager of Football - Two Premierships

In 20 seasons this century, he has 5 Premierships and 3 other Grand Final appearances to his name.

When he started at Collingwood, they were a basketcase, 'winning' the wooden spoon in 1999.

When he started at Geelong, they had missed the finals the previous season and hadn't won a flag for 44 years.

When he started at Richmond, they had been the laughing stock of the competition for over 30 years, and hadn't won a final for 15 seasons.

Who has a better football CV than Neil Balme since 2000?

EDIT: Standings based on other nominations in this thread (AFL level only):
Balme 8 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Clarkson 7 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Caracella 7 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships
Hardwick 6 Grand Finals, 5 Premierships

Also a great player (2 premierships) and an impressive coaching record in the SANFL (2 flags for Norwood in a decade dominated by Port who no doubt did anything they could for success......anything)

 

[Marcel Proust]

changed his job to Senior Club Advisor

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Where’s the Marlion Pickett love. 1 game 1 flag and should’ve had a Norm Smith. Was stiff to miss out on AA selection and had the most votes per game on average in Richmond’s bnf. Stack a close second.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Balme is a very impressive dude to talk to. So chilled and realistic. Cuts to the chase.

Reckon part of his success is that he is smart, tough, but doesn't buy the Kool Aid that many do. He just does what is important and doesn't stress most other stuff.

 

[Fadge]

Where’s the Marlion Pickett love. 1 game 1 flag and should’ve had a Norm Smith. Was stiff to miss out on AA selection and had the most votes per game on average in Richmond’s bnf. Stack a close second.

4 more flags and he's in the conversation.

 

[Elmer_Judd]

Still Clarkson for my money, 4 flags at 1 club is a helluva resume.

 

[RichLeMonde]

1. Clarko (pains me to write that)
2. Balme
3. Leigh Matthews
4. Benny Gale
5. James "whatever it takes" Hird

 

[Scotland]

What about Brian Cook?

CEO of West Coast 1990-1999. Finals every year, 3 GFs, 2 flags. Club went from fledgling to a financial powerhouse. Subiaco Oval while limited was modernised with new stands, lights, video screens, state of the art club facilities etc.

CEO of Geelong 1999-. Finals 15 of 20 seasons, 4 GFs, 3 flags after being close in the late 80s and 90s and having not won since the 60s. Club has gone from 21,000 members to 64,000. Kardinia Park has gone from a country ground holding 20k or so to a venue holding 35-40k capable of hosting night games. And the club makes a killing out of it.

Both clubs with Cook at the helm have prioritised stability. Frank Costa has been Geelong president forever, WC rotate chairmen every few years. But in both cases they are low profile positions. The clubs don't want a David Koch or Jeff Kennett opening their mouth every other week. Malthouse was a 10 year coach, likewise Bomber Thompson (11 I think). Chris Scott (much to the chagrin of some) has been there for 9 years now.

Neil Balme is great, but is he the reason those clubs achieved success or did he move at the right times? Cook as CEO helped build two clubs over 10 year periods, 20 in the case of Geelong. You could say of Clarkson or any other coach that they just won a flag because they had great players who someone else picked, but when you are still in the seat in 2020 what happened in the lead up to 2004 is ancient history. Longevity is a valuable measure.

 

[Rustyrich]

Balme is a very impressive dude to talk to. So chilled and realistic. Cuts to the chase.

Reckon part of his success is that he is smart, tough, but doesn't buy the Kool Aid that many do. He just does what is important and doesn't stress most other stuff.

He was stressing when he was coaching Melbourne that's for sure

 

[SunshineBoy]

As a Hawks supporter, I don't like doing the whole Clarko thing but:

Central Districts in the SANFL (2001 - 2002) - 2 Grand Finals, 1 premiership
Port Adelaide (2003-2004) - 2 Grand Finals, 1 premiership
Hawthorn (2005-present) - 5 Grand Finals, 4 premierships

Neil Balme seems to be a fantastic football administrator though, and there's no coincidence that he sees success at clubs.

Balme wasn’t a bad footballer in his day either, sharp elbows as well

 

[BF Tiger]

Andrew Russell has been involved in six flags this century.

Essendon - 2000
Port Adelaide - 2004
Hawthorn - 2008, 2013,14,15

 

[SickQwon]

Has to be Jarrad Grant

 

[Upgrayedd]

Is it safe to suggest that Jarrad Grant played 95 more games of AFL football than the 3 of you combined?

Clearly hes better then me if im nominating him for the most sucessful person in football this centuary of else i would of posted "Upgrayedd"

Keep up.

 

[Dazb86]

Is it safe to suggest that Jarrad Grant played 95 more games of AFL football than the 3 of you combined?

Yeah mate Jarrad Grant is the best. What's your point?

 

[Fadge]

Andrew Russell has been involved in six flags this century.

Essendon - 2000
Port Adelaide - 2004
Hawthorn - 2008, 2013,14,15

Great nomination, exactly what we are looking for.

 

[Fadge]

What about Brian Cook?

CEO of West Coast 1990-1999. Finals every year, 3 GFs, 2 flags. Club went from fledgling to a financial powerhouse. Subiaco Oval while limited was modernised with new stands, lights, video screens, state of the art club facilities etc.

CEO of Geelong 1999-. Finals 15 of 20 seasons, 4 GFs, 3 flags after being close in the late 80s and 90s and having not won since the 60s. Club has gone from 21,000 members to 64,000. Kardinia Park has gone from a country ground holding 20k or so to a venue holding 35-40k capable of hosting night games. And the club makes a killing out of it.

Both clubs with Cook at the helm have prioritised stability. Frank Costa has been Geelong president forever, WC rotate chairmen every few years. But in both cases they are low profile positions. The clubs don't want a David Koch or Jeff Kennett opening their mouth every other week. Malthouse was a 10 year coach, likewise Bomber Thompson (11 I think). Chris Scott (much to the chagrin of some) has been there for 9 years now.

Neil Balme is great, but is he the reason those clubs achieved success or did he move at the right times? Cook as CEO helped build two clubs over 10 year periods, 20 in the case of Geelong. You could say of Clarkson or any other coach that they just won a flag because they had great players who someone else picked, but when you are still in the seat in 2020 what happened in the lead up to 2004 is ancient history. Longevity is a valuable measure.

Interesting post, and if the thread title was 'Who is the most successful person in football this century (plus the last decade of last century)', he'd certainly be in the mix.

 

[RichLeMonde]

Stephen Dank (unbelievable turn-arounds achieved at Geelong and Essendon)
Guy that ran Adelaide camp (succeeded in destroying an entire football club)
Adam Treloar (most success-focused attitude to being traded of any player)
Tory Dickson (overall winner of Tinder 2015-2019)
Trent Cotchin's hair (2-time premiership captain and Browlow hair; in the flat-top bouffant years you could use as Australia's most accurate spirit-level)