Has Neil Balme been the most successful person in football this century?
- Thread starter Fadge
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He would have had to be a miracle worker to rival JC to have had success coaching Melbourne.
Danger2Jenkins
Knight of the Teutonic Order
Brendan Gale (AFL CEO) wouldn't have achieved two flags if he didn't lobby for a home fixture and home finals regardless of where Richmond finish in the top 4.
Deserves more credit than Balme
Deserves more credit than Balme
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Because if anyone in football needed more vaguery around what he actually does, it's Balme...
Elmer_Judd
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- #33
As a Carlton fan, I have no reason or inkling to defend Neil Balme at all, but that post just reeks of sour bitterness..
From what I have ascertained (From a mate who has legit RFC insider connections), Balme was a pivotal figure in the Tigers picking up Marlion Pickett in the mid-season draft, and strongly encouraged Richmond to take the massive risk of playing him in the grand final.
Danger2Jenkins
Knight of the Teutonic Order
Gale was a pivotal figure in the Tigers 8 home game streaks leading into finals, lack of interstate travel towards the end of the season and protesting for MCG finals against a higher placed Geelong. These fortunes are what won Richmond flags. I think Marlion Pickett pales in comparison. He wasn't even around for 2017 and Richmond would've won 2019 without him.
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- #35
telsor
Hall of Famer
Surely if he believes it, that's proof that he's not all there....So that bit applies regardless.
telsor
Hall of Famer
and don't forget, they were the ones who gave him a nudge towards the door because they wanted Eddie's mate back.
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If Collingwood had kept Balme, they would have won both the 2018 and 2019 flags
telsor
Hall of Famer
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I'm remember when Geelong dropped Mark Blake from a grand final side, I posted Balme had spent a career ******* up the Blake family.
As a kid I remember going to a game at Kardinia Park, Geelong v Richmond and at the opening bounce, Balme knocked Rod Blake rotten. Blake got up and took his kick, a high, mongrel flat punt and then promptly went down again and had to be carried from the ground and never returned.
Clarkson certainly from a coaching point of view. Different skill set between coaching/club management though. A great club needs both and often it's the administration/management that find those good coaches.
Once that's all said and done though, you need those good coaches to then deliver the goods with the team like Clarkson has.
Tiger_Of_Old
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Bluey Shelton
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- #46
Amazing record and comes across as a great person.
...which is easy to do when you aren't the coach and don't have to front the media and supporters if it goes wrong.
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- #48
he was director of football or something, its still a risk to back in pickett for balme
as said above, balme was very high on pickett before the MSdraft and straight after he walked into the club, after his first vfl game, etc. etc.
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- Jun 22, 2008
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I remember there being a little speculation about Geelong trying to get Pickett as he's supposedly best mates with Tim Kelly and the Cats may have tried it to entice Kelly to stay.
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Fair. WC (4 GFs, 2 flags) and Geelong (4, 3) wouldn't be where they are this century without Cook - but he can't claim credit for both given he'd already left WC when we were partying like it was 1999.
