1. Neil Allen Balme was born on 15 January 1952 and is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League, as well as for the Subiaco Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League and the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League.
Neil Balme is currently a board member at the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League.
Neil Balme was one of three brothers, the others being Ian and Craig, to play League football.
Neil Balme played his junior football with Wembley Athletic Club, after leaving Mount Pleasant Amateurs, before transferring to Western Australian Football League club Subiaco in 1968.
Aged just 16, Neil Balme created a huge impression with a strong performance in the ruck against future Australian Football Hall of Famer Graham "Polly" Farmer in a game against West Perth Football Club.
Neil Balme was quickly enticed to sign with Richmond along with his older brother Ian Balme.
Neil Balme found himself playing at thirds level with the Tigers.
In 1970, Neil Balme continued his development with the Tiger reserves, and broke through for three senior games late in the year.
The club demanded strong, vigorous ruck players and identified the potential in Neil Balme to continue the tradition.
Neil Balme stood out with his height, big physique, long, flowing hair and penchant for throwing his weight around.
Neil Balme was less effective in the finals, saving his best game for the Grand Final when he booted five goals in a losing performance against Carlton.
Neil Balme provided several goals for teammates with intelligent tap-ons, hit outs and shepherds, an under-emphasised aspect of his game.
Neil Balme instigated two incidents during this period that remain controversial to this day.
Minutes later, Neil Balme launched a flurry of punches at Carlton's Vin Waite during a scramble for the ball in the Richmond goalsquare.
The umpire had a good sight of the incident and reported Neil Balme, who was later suspended.
Richmond players and officials have always defended Neil Balme's actions, claiming that there was no way Neil Balme premeditated his attacks on the Carlton players.
Neil Balme played well in the finals and aged 22 was a premiership player for the second time.
Neil Balme confirmed his status as a big-game performer in the 1975 finals, when Richmond finished third.
Neil Balme had his best-ever season in 1977, finishing second in Richmond's Best and Fairest award, the Jack Dyer Medal, and was chosen to play for his native Western Australia in the first state of origin match in October.
Neil Balme then shifted to South Australia, where he was snapped up by South Australian National Football League club Norwood as coach.
Neil Balme encouraged a fast, open and skilful passing game that he believed was the future of the code.
In 1991, Neil Balme left Norwood and became the inaugural coach of the new Woodville-West Torrens Football Club, formed from the merger of Woodville and West Torrens at the end of 1990.
Neil Balme's reasoned, personable style and his insistence on player self-empowerment made him very media-friendly, but some questioned whether he was suited to coaching in the AFL.
Neil Balme was replaced by Greg Hutchison for the rest of the season.
Neil Balme found a position more suited to his personality when he was appointed football operations manager at the struggling Collingwood in 1998.
Surprisingly, Neil Balme was moved sideways by Collingwood at the end of the 2006 AFL season and he opted to accept an offer from Geelong Football Club to act as football operations manager in 2007, for the Cats, the year in which the club won its first Premiership in 44 years.
In September 2016 Neil Balme left Collingwood to accept the position of General Manager of Football at Richmond.
In 2024 Neil Balme completed his tenure at the Richmond Football Club.
In 2025 Neil Balme was appointed to the board at the Adelaide Football Club.